Peelable coatings: A review

Peelable coatings, as the name suggests, are temporary coatings which can be peeled off as continuous and sizable sheets from the substrate at the end of the service period. These coatings, also known as strippable coatings, have proven to be a cost-effective and time-efficient solution for protection and decontamination of sensitive, and inaccessible surfaces requiring a high precision application method. These coatings are removable and flexible but are robust and impervious to external chemical attacks and physical stresses. Peelable coatings due to their compatibility with a wide range of substrates can be applied on metals, plastics, glass and concrete, to name a few. The polymers predominantly used for peelable coating composition include vinyl-based polymers and copolymers, acrylics, polyurethanes, cellulose polymers and derivatives in a water-based or solvent-based system. Another key ingredient of the peelable coating system is the release agent used. Release agents play a cardinal role in the coating as they restrict the adhesion of the film to the substrate and supplement the peel ability of the film. Coupling the polymer chemistries, release agents with different additives can yield a broad spectrum of peelable coatings finding applications in decontamination of nuclear reactors, optics, automotive, floor coatings, electronic protection, food coatings, cosmetics and labels for plastics.