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Posted by McElroy Metal ● Aug 5, 2020 9:34 AM

Why Choose Kynar 500® for Your Metal Roof

Long recognized for their ability to provide long-term protection and durability, Kynar 500® resin-based coatings offer homeowners and commercial building owners beautiful, long-lasting roofs that retain their curb appeal year-after-year.

What is Kynar 500®?

Kynar 500® is a fluoropolymer (polyvinylidene fluoride or PVDF) resin that is used by leading paint manufacturers to create long-life coatings for many end uses including metal roofing and siding.

How was it Developed?

Why Choose Kynar 500 for Your Metal Roof

In the late 1950’s a chemist named Joe McCann left his employment at Ben Franklin Paint and Varnish in the Philadelphia area and went to work for a company called PennSalt. PennSalt had a Fluoropolymer resin line named Kynar®. Joe realized that paint could be based on this technology and he recommended that his former employer look into it.

The early success of lab trials indicated that there was value in pursuing this as a basis for high technology coatings, so PennSalt decided to allow several paint companies to investigate this under a licensing and secrecy agreement. The company that was formerly known as Ben Franklin was the first to agree to the license and successfully solve the formulation challenges to produce a stable product that met the requirements for long-term durability. 

The first commercial usage was for the PennSalt (by then called PennWalt) headquarters in Philadelphia. Licenses were then issued to several paint manufacturers, although there are never more than five active licensees. In order to even get the license, there were strict requirements in place for testing and manufacturing control. In order to be called Kynar 500, a minimum of 70% in the resin portion had to be Kynar resin.  The remainder of the resin portion was up to the paint manufacturer to determine.

The brand became the premiere coating and was established quickly in the architectural market because it provided long-term durability. The popularity of the brand was aided by a unique limited warranty which gave 20-year protection for film integrity, color, and chalk resistance, which was unheard of at the time.

Since it was first introduced, various versions of the technology were developed to meet marketplace needs. The Kynar 500 resin-based coatings have continued to be the unquestioned best quality coatings available in the marketplace. They are no longer just used for high-end architectural strictures but have found uses in many other areas of construction including residential roofing, post frame construction and pre-engineered metal buildings.

What Makes a Kynar 500® Metal Roof Superior?

The main components in a paint system are pigment, resin (binder), and solvents. The pigment determines the color, and the resin holds, or binds, the pigment together. Low-quality resins result in poor coating performance in the areas of film integrity, fade, and chalk. In simple terms, low-quality resins enable nature’s elements to turn a red roof into a pink roof or a deep blue roof into powder blue. This is called fade.

Kynar 500 resin systems are proven to offer the highest-level protection against panel fade and chalk.Chalk, as the name implies, is that substance that rubs off on hands or clothing when they come in contact with the surface. The picture to the left shows chalk that has been wiped off of a coated surface.

Kynar 500 resin systems are proven to offer the highest-level protection against panel fade and chalk.

For many people, a home is their largest asset and a source of pride and adding a metal roof to a home is a substantial investment. Because Kynar 500 offers the greatest protection against panel fade and chalk, homeowners are assured that their homes will still look great decades after the initial installation.

On day one, Kynar 500 coatings and lessor quality coatings look identical. The quality difference becomes apparent after the coating is exposed to the elements. In the picture below, you can see the difference between a section of a roof that has been coated with Kynar 500 and sections that were coated with a Siliconized Modified Polyester paint. All the sections were identical on the day they were applied, but over the course of eight years the Kynar 500 section retained its vibrancy and didn’t chalk or fade. Check out this related post Metal Roof Paint Systems: Kynar 500® vs. SMP.

kynar 500 and smp comparison

The building below dramatically illustrates Kynar 500's superior performance. This building was built in two phases, nine (9) years apart. Note, no color difference in the two halves of the roof. No fade! No chalk!

additionbuilding-1

Kynar® and Kynar 500® are registered trademarks of Arkema Inc.

Learn More about Metal Roofing

For decades, Kynar 500 coatings have been the paint system of choice for architects around the world, which is why many of our products are coated with Kynar 500. You can find a full list of our Kynar 500 metal roof products here, or you can contact us at any time to learn more about our roofing solutions.

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Learn everything you need to know about Residential Metal Roofing. Check out our metal roofing resources for inspiration and answers to your questions.

About McElroy Metal

Since 1963, McElroy Metal has served the construction industry with quality products and excellent customer service. The employee-owned components manufacturer is headquartered in Bossier City, La., and has 14 manufacturing facilities across the United States. Quality, service and performance have been the cornerstone of McElroy Metal’s business philosophy and have contributed to the success of the company through the years. As a preferred service provider, these values will continue to be at the forefront of McElroy Metal’s model along with a strong focus on the customer.

Topics: Education, Metal Roofing, Residential, Substrates and Coatings

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