PPG AMERLOCK® - APPLICATION GUIDE

PPG AMERLOCK® is a two component, high solid epoxy coating. It is a high performance self-priming universal epoxy, with high solids and low VOC content. PPG AMERLOCK® is also abrasion resistant; it can be used with damp surfaces that are properly prepared. It also features good adhesion on most existing coatings. 

PPG AMERLOCK® has good resistance to splash and chemical spills. 

 

BASIC INFORMATION  

PPG AMERLOCK® is a two-component product with an approximately 85% solids formulation. It can stand temperatures up to 200°F or short term temperature elevations of up to 350°F. It is recommended to be applied to yield approximately a 4.0 to 8.0 mils dry film thickness. PPG AMERLOCK® is suggested to have a coverage rate of 341 square feet per gallon. It features a dry to touch time of about 6 hours. Second coats are suitable to be applied after 16 hours. 

 

PROPER SURFACE PREPARATIONS FOR PPG AMERLOCK® 

Surfaces should be free of all loose paint, mill scale, and rust. Surfaces should also be dry, clean, free of grease, oil, or other foreign material. 

Ideally, surfaces are sandblasted to have ideal preparation and allow for best adhesion of AMERLOCK®.  
 
For specific surfaces, see below: 

Carbon Steel 

• recommended to blast, clean the surface to SSPC-10 preparation which is also known as a near white metal blast.  
• For atmosphere service an SSPC6 or SSPC3 standard is sufficient.  
• SSPC6 is also known as commercial blast cleaning which is a lighter profile than recommended for immersion surface.  
• Alternatively, the surface can be prepped with hand tool cleaning following SSPC SP2 or ultra-high pressure water jet cleaning following SSPC SP WJ-2(L). 

Concrete / Masonry  

• All grease, oil and other penetrating contaminants should be removed from the surface.  
• Surface must be abraded to remove all chalk and surface glaze and to achieve surface profile of ICRI CSP 3 to 5.  
• Voids should be properly filled with an epoxy filler.  
• It can be important as well to do a proper moisture transmission test to ensure the surface is not excessively moist or water producing. 

Galvanized Steel  

• Remove oil or soap film with emulsion cleaner or detergent.  
• Abrasive blast lightly with a fine grit sandblast media to meet SSPC SP-16 guidelines to achieve a surface profile of 1.5- 3.0 mils. 
• If abrasive sandblasting is not possible, galvanizing can be treated using zinc phosphate conversion coating.  
• If the galvanized product had at least 12 months exterior weathering outdoors, it may be coated after power washing only. 

Non-Ferrous Metals and Stainless Steel 

• Remove all contaminants, rust, dirt, moisture, grease from the surface.  
• Lightly sandblast to an SSPC SP-16 standard. 
• Aged Coatings and Repairs  
• Aged suitable coating must be dry and free from any contamination before AMERLOCK® is applied. 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE  

The two components should be properly mixed ideally with an air driven paddle mixer to ensure consistent and uniformed full mixing of the two components of PPG AMERLOCK®. 

PPG AMERLOCK® has no induction time and so once it is mixed, it is ready to be applied. However, its pot life is only 2 hours at 68 f so you should be timely and efficient in getting AMERLOCK® coating applied to the surface so that it does not harden in the lines or spray equipment if spray equipment is being used.  

 

SPRAYING PPG AMERLOCK® 

PPG AMERLOCK® can be thinned up to 10 % for use with a certain equipment.  

Spray Gun 

PPG AMERLOCK® can be sprayed using pressure feed spray gun such as a Binks 2100 spray gun with a 2.8-gallon pressure pot. In general, a 1.8 tip or slightly larger will be ideal to ensure effective and efficient spray application of paint in the pressure pot.  If you use a spray gun you thinning can help achieve a smooth finish. 

Airless Sprayer 

When using an airless sprayer, thinner is not always required but may be used up to 5% to ensure easier application of PPG AMERLOCK®. The ideal tip size with an airless sprayer and AMERLOCK®  is a 0.019 in tip and generally pressure of at least 2500 psi is required to ensure easy and smooth coating application of PPG AMERLOCK®.  

Brush / Roller 

The core of the roller must be solvent resistant. PPG AMERLOCK® is best cleaned with thinner 90-53, 90-58 or 21-06. Spreading thickness can differ based on the dryness and thickness that you want to achieve. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

Substrate temperature during application should be between 41°F and 122°F.  

Curing time will depend on the surface temperature of the product.  

At 104°F, the product’s dry to handle time is 8 hours and full cure is 3 days.  

At 60°F, dry to handle time is 20 hours and full cure is 7 days.  

You may also use PPG 861 accelerator of a maximum of 1 pint per 5 gallons to reduce curing time to half. Pot life does vary based on the temperature, see chart for more information. 

PPG AMERLOCK® should be applied with proper safety equipment to include at least a certified and appropriate respirator and ideally, coveralls, proper hand coverings and eye protection. 

 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

Overall, PPG AMERLOCK® is a direct to metal product that features strong protective performance and friendly ease of application. To ensure ideal results, ensure your surface is free from dust, contaminates, grease, oil and properly prepped through blasting or a suitable alternative preparation.  

PPG AMERLOCK® can be sprayed effectively but just be sure to monitor and be aware of the pot life so that you spray the coating before it begins to harden excessively. 
 
For additional information, please see the PPG technical data sheet.