The Craft of Bedliner Paint Manufacturing: A Closer Look at Polyurea Coatings

When it comes to shielding truck beds from regular wear and tear, bedliner paint plays a critical role. Among the many types available, polyurea-based coatings stand out because of their strength, fast set time, and flexibility across different surfaces. To fully understand how these coatings perform so well, it helps to look at how they are made.

Understanding Polyurea Chemistry

Polyurea forms through a chemical reaction between two main ingredients: an isocyanate and an amine-terminated resin. This reaction happens extremely quickly—often in just seconds—without the need for a catalyst. Once combined, the materials form a solid and flexible polymer network that bonds well with a variety of surfaces. This fast reaction time gives polyurea its edge in many industrial and automotive applications.

Raw Material Preparation

Before any reaction takes place, manufacturers must carefully choose and prepare their raw materials. The isocyanates used in the blend may be aromatic or aliphatic, depending on whether the final product needs UV resistance or quicker reactivity. Meanwhile, the amine resins are selected to adjust the softness or rigidity of the final surface. These two components must be stored separately in tightly controlled environments so they don’t react early due to heat, humidity, or accidental contamination.

Mixing and Application

Manufacturing bedliner paint isn’t as simple as combining two liquids. High-performance spray systems are needed to blend and apply the coating at the same time. These plural-component sprayers operate at high pressure and require the materials to be heated beforehand to lower viscosity. Once sprayed onto a surface, the polyurea coating starts curing almost instantly. That’s why it’s so often used on truck beds—there’s no long drying time. The surface becomes usable very soon after the spray work ends.

Testing and Quality Control

Manufacturers can't afford guesswork when it comes to bedliner quality. Every batch of material goes through tests to measure hardness, flexibility, tensile strength, adhesion, and abrasion resistance. If any of these values fall short, it can mean a failed coating. Tests are performed under repeatable conditions so that every gallon of bedliner paint will behave as expected once it leaves the plant.

Safety and Environmental Impact

Unlike many traditional coatings, polyurea systems are made without solvents or VOCs. That means there’s no long-term off-gassing or exposure to harmful fumes. This safer profile makes polyurea more acceptable for indoor use and better for the environment. During manufacturing, special handling systems help keep the materials separate until the last moment, which also reduces health risks for workers.

Scientific Improvements in Polyurea

What sets the current market apart is the level of research being poured into specialty coatings. Some manufacturers have started testing new blends that include elements such as aluminum additives. These changes affect not just durability but also reflectivity and heat dissipation. The result is a polyurea product tuned for specific applications, whether that’s to protect a truck bed from tools or to keep equipment cool in the sun.

A Broader View of Industry Trends

The polyurea industry is not standing still. Across the board, manufacturers, chemists, and applicators are working together to improve spray techniques, develop better tools, and tailor coatings to specific conditions. These changes are being driven not only by innovation but also by direct feedback from users. The shift is from one-size-fits-all coatings to highly engineered systems that serve real-world jobs more effectively.

Conclusion

The production of bedliner paint, especially when it’s based on polyurea chemistry, involves more than just mixing chemicals. It’s a precise process that includes careful material selection, strict quality control, and a constant push to refine formulas for better performance. From the factory floor to the back of a truck, the attention to detail at every step ensures that the final product lives up to its reputation. The companies that take the time to perfect each part of the process are the ones moving the entire coatings industry forward.

Read More

Posted by : Bedliner Review

Share:

Read This Before Getting A Bedliner Paint Job

Read this article first for those contemplating getting a full-body truck or jeep bedliner applied. Buying a new or used truck is always such a hassle. I was never set on driving my pickup or jeep for the sake of joyrides. Like most owners of utility vehicles, I have but one concern and that concern is functionality. It seems like a shame that previous truck beds were wasted away under the mistreatment and abuse of hard labor and constant use were it not for the advent of truck bedliners. It appears that the practice of protecting truck beds has been around since the fifties with wooden planks until 1983. Until a company called ArmorThane formulated a chemical mixture that was sprayable and much easier to apply than previous versions.

USA Today released an article covering the circulating trend of car owners applying bedliner to their entire vehicle. Although a popular trend, many find themselves reluctant to invest in such an endeavor. Many are afraid of committing to what could be a smart move on their part due to potential mistakes in product or service choice. 

However, few people recognize that it can potentially cost the same or even less to have a bedliner applied to the exterior of your vehicle than a new paint job. The process of applying a bedliner is much easier, whether the bedliner job is being done at a shop or if you were to do it yourself. Auto paint is higher priced than Polyurea (bedliner). Good automotive paint is typically well over $300 per gallon. Auto painting requires much more attention to detail than applying a bedliner. Maaco, a popular chain of paint shops specializing in bodywork and overall paint jobs, can charge several thousands of dollars for a complete paint job on any vehicle. Some estimates I have had were over 12,000 dollars. Even more unfortunate is the fact that Maaco is not considered ultra-high quality by any means. 

USA Today gave out a price estimate of $5,000 dollars for a custom bedliner job for a full-size vehicle based on national averages. Auto paint can be twice that! 

Things To Consider When Choosing A Bedliner Applicator

First off, it's always important that you are purchasing a quality product. Only Polyurea/polyurea hybrids are high-quality bedliners; typically, urethane, polyurethane, and epoxy blends do not carry the high-strength specs necessary for proper protection. 

The main difference between Polyurea and Polyurethanes becomes evident at a molecular level. The molecules fuse differently, where Polyurea is much more durable than a Polyurethane and Polyurea blend. All can be applied yourself, but again, most DIY bedliner deals, especially the cheapest ones, are inadequate. They are typically made from higher-cost urethanes but at such low quantities to appear lower-priced.

After some calling around, I found that Rhino Linings of Casper, Laramie, and Riverton in Wyoming are dissatisfied with Rhino products for exterior jobs. Some phased out full exterior applications entirely. ProTech in Montana said that they advised against doing an entire Rhino exterior job as the liner is too thick when applied and could prevent assembly of truck parts after the disassembly necessary for application. This seems strange as the Rhino should be applied as necessary to function in door jams, etc. Unfortunately for ProTech, it seems as if Shane at their shop isn't well acquainted with his own Rhino products or the application of Polyurea in general. I got many of the same types of answers from Line-X applicators as well. The only company that seems to know what they are talking about and ready and willing to spray anything and anywhere I requested was ArmorThane. This is not surprising since ArmorThane has been around for over 30 years and paved the way to spraying the entire vehicle in bedliner.

Therefore, calling several dozen bedliner spraying applicators all across the nation has yielded varying answers. Most of those answers quite depressing, except for each ArmorThane applicator I spoke to. 

Despite exterior bedliner being a prudent alternative to auto paint jobs as an effective method of preserving your truck, few shops know what they're doing. If you want to go forward with a full-body bedliner, or any bedliner for that matter, you should call ArmorThane.

 

Read More

Posted by : Bedliner Review

Share:

How to Remove Paint From Your Bedliner

 

We have been getting lots of questions regarding spills on bedliners. So we will go over the simple procedure to take care of paint spills in this article. 

Spilling paint on your bedliner will remind you why you got that bedliner in the first place. A bedliner will protect and preserve the bed of your vehicle from cuts, dents, and spills. It is much easier to remove dried paint from your bedliner than it is to remove it from the bed of your vehicle.

Step 1:

Apply a small amount of lacquer thinner to the spilled area. Let the thinner sit for at least 15 minutes.

Step 2:

Scrub the thinner applied spot with a medium-grade brush. Use a towel to wipe away as much as you can.

Repeat the process until the paint is entirely removed. The paint may take several applications to come off completely.

 

Read More

Posted by : Bedliner Review

Share:

Why ArmorThane Is The Best Choice For Becoming An Applicator

 

Join The Growing Army of Bed Liner Applicators

We have been receiving inquiries from those of you who want to become a POLYUREA applicator. I want to address this question. We are quite biased regarding this question. However, this is for a good reason. In our 30 years of experience in our field, we have encountered no other applicator. 

ArmorThane is and has been #1 for quite some time, and let me tell you why...

A number of these third-rate fly-by-night operations that go belly up within a few years, costing applicators hundreds of thousands of dollars and leaving them to their demise without even putting up a fight to make sure they stay afloat. I have personally witnessed the owner drive all night to make sure a small outfit in Pennsylvania has the spray system parts he needed to complete the project he needed to get done that following day. That is true compassion and a true caring that you dont see much these days. With the current situation, we see our country in, fighting through an epidemic and an unknowing of what tomorrow will bring. Its companies like ArmorThane tell us this country will prevail, just as we have in the past when terror has gripped our nation. 

Now, as if that wasn't enough, let me tell you all the reasons why ArmorThane is, in a business sense, also the best option...

NO FRANCHISE FEES, LOW-COST STARTUP, IMMEDIATE SUPPORT!

ArmorThane is one of the strongest and most durable spray-in bed liners on the market.

As a spray liner dealer, you can access a top-quality product, over 22 colors, and 24-hour technical assistance!

MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY

With over 2 Million new trucks hitting the streets every year, potential customers are virtually limitless!

Also, truck bed liners are not the only market opportunity. ArmorThane is an excellent product for Marine, Industrial, Exterior, Commercial and Agricultural applications!

Enjoy amazing profit potential with this easy system. Start selling ArmorThane today!

EASY SYSTEM AND SUPPORT

No other spray-in bedliner system offers the quality and ease of application like ArmorThane. Their method is easy to learn and apply, so you or your team can spray almost instantly.

We value and support our dealers with a wealth of resources. We offer 24-hour technical support and a strong support team with on-site chemists. Your success is their success, and they want to help you deliver a top-quality product!

 

 

Steps to Becoming A Dealer

1. Verify Service Area (Complete the online Form To Verify)
2. Review of Training Materials
3. Complete the Dealer Agreement
4. Call them to place your first order
5. Start Spraying ArmorThane!
   

Read More

Posted by : Bedliner Review

Share:

Top Ways to Maintain Your Truck BedLiner

Your truck’s bedliner protects the bed by blocking damage to it. Bedliners keep the bed of your truck free from nicks and scratches. The vitality of bed liners cannot be underestimated. However, you also need to maintain the bed liner so that it can protect your truck’s bed from damage for the longest time possible before replacement is necessary. Below are some of the best ways to take care of any bedliner:

Avoid Dragging Items Around the Truck Bed

Dragging items around in your truck’s bed can destroy the liner. To avoid harming the bedliner, try as much as possible to lift things as you move them around in the bed.

Maintaining Rubber Mats Liners

These liners are cheap and can prevent the bed of your truck from scratches and dents. However, it may move around, making it awkward to use at times. To take care of this type of liner, you need to make sure water does not get underneath to rust your truck bed or depreciate the mats.

Maintaining Plastic Liners

Hard plastic truck bedliners usually cover the entire bed of your truck, protecting all surfaces from possible scratches. Since you connect it by puncturing holes and using screws to fasten it into your truck, you need to make sure it is secure to avoid water getting in inside it and the truck’s bed. Ensure that you keep harsh chemicals off of this type of liner and recognize it is still vulnerable to cuts if not taken care of properly.

Maintaining Spray-in BedLiner

This is one of the best bedliners out there. It is void of water problems like mats and plastic liners may have. Also, it protects your truck’s bed from rust as it is an actual coating on the vehicle itself. They are hardly destroyed by chemicals, and it resists tears from various objects. However, don’t drag items on the bed because it may destroy the bedliner with time.

These are just some of the ways to pay attention to when protecting your bed liner so that it protects your truck’s bed from scratches and dents for a longer time. Let the experts at ArmorThane assist you in understanding your options and installation of a new bedliner for your truck!
 

 

  

Read More

Posted by : Bedliner Review

Share:

The Best Spray in Bedliner Options for 2018!

There are many bed liner sprays available on the market nowadays, but how do you choose the perfect one just for your truck?

Great for the affordable price. After intensive testing, I chose five top products, which are unquestionably worthy to become the perfect protection for your truck’s body. Four critical parameters were compared: durability, quantity, UV-protection and compositions to decide which one is the best.

So let’s get started, here we have top-5 Bed Liner Kits (including the best roll on truck bed liner):

1. U-POL Raptor Black Urethane Spray-On Truck Bed Liner Kit
Durability79%
Quantity78%
UV-protection88%
Inclusions90%
1. U-POL Raptor Black Urethane Spray-On Truck Bed Liner Kit
View on Amazon To start with, let’s review this spay closely:
Durability:

When it comes to painting bed liners on your car, this product will prove itself worthy. The spray will protect your truck’s body for long periods of time, looking as good as the day it was applied.

I use my truck daily, and day by day I have to deal with mud roads – still, the spray holds perfectly. Use this to keep the rust off your truck. Moreover, the color is really saturated. You can use this spray not only for bed lining but also for trailer flooring, undercoating, etc. – and it will never disappoint you.

Quantity
It is essential to figure up how much paint you will need to cover every part you’ve decided to renovate. The four liters of Raptor will be enough for most painting jobs. Probably. You will have plenty left. However, it is recommended to apply the second layer afterward, to make sure the effect will stay for longer.

UV-protection
Raptor will provide the body of your truck with additional UV-protection due to its chemical formula, granting the extended term of service. After the months of use, the look is still fantastic.

Inclusions
The kit is provided with a free spray gun, which personally I have found extremely helpful. I sprayed at 60 psi, and the results were excellent. Would love to work with this spray gun again for sure. Here is the link for the video, demonstrating how easy to work with the product.





2. U-POL 0820V-GUN Black URETHANE Truck Bed Liner Kit With 726 Gun
Durability91%
Quantity79%
UV-protection76%
UV-protection85%
2. U-POL 0820V-GUN Black URETHANE Truck Bed Liner Kit With 726 Gun
View on Amazon
By purchasing the following product, you’re getting the genuinely incredible DIY kit allowing you to paint your truck bed lining on your own. Just follow the necessary instructions, and you are good to go.

Durability
I must admit – it is brilliant and works like nothing else in this price bracket. But keep it in mind – the bed liner will give the best results after an appropriate preparation job. After the half a year of service, the U-pol has proven itself to be a reliable product, which I can definitely recommend for you.

Quantity
The basic kit allows you to perform most of the painting job. I used this to spray the bottom six inches of the doors and new rocker panels on a 4-door 2500 truck, and I still got some left. However, if you’re planning to cover a larger surface – buying the extra amount is advised.

UV-protection
The method of the bed liner allows it not to fade by UV-radiation. Therefore, whether you live in a sunny area, it would be another advantage of buying U-Pol. I haven’t encountered any issues with color growing dim for half a year.

Inclusions
The kit includes a spray gun, which privately I found enjoyable to use. It’s easy and requires almost no effort s to spray lovely layers of paint. However, in my judgment, the handle could be better – still, we should not forget about the price of the kit, which compensates for the minor discomfort.




3. U-Pol Products 0820 RAPTOR Black Truck Bed Liner Kit – 4 Liter
Durability91%
Quantity78%
UV-protection93%
UV-protection43%
3. U-Pol Products 0820 RAPTOR Black Truck Bed Liner Kit - 4 Liter
View on Amazon
Let me introduce to you another reliable product. It will make an excellent job not only as a bed liner but also for various paint jobs either. Here is a video demonstrating the preparation of RAPTOR:


Durability
Let’s get things straight – I’ve used this on numerous cars, and every time got a great result. It is suitable for traversing almost every surface of your drive, not only for bed lining. This kit will do great guarding the body of your truck from various environmental effects for a long time. However, keep it in mind that prep is essential if you want the spray to serve longer.

Quantity
The kit contains 4 liters of spray, which needs preparation before it can be used. By following the simple instructions, you will make plenty of ready-to-use sprays. I doubt that you would require more than a standard kit can offer.

UV-protection
This one has proved itself right against the UV-radiation. After seven months the bed lining color is still, and I’m sure it will stay that way for much longer.

Inclusions
Unlike the prior ones, the kit doesn’t include a spray gun, so it is recommended to get one. Buy or rent one– but do it before painting job, as a ready solution shouldn’t be left for long. Otherwise, it will harden and become utterly useless.




4. Rust-Oleum Automotive 248915 32-Ounce Truck Bed Coating Quarts, Black
Durability95%
Quantity92%
UV-protection64%
UV-protection46%
4. Rust-Oleum Automotive 248915 32-Ounce Truck Bed Coating Quarts, Black
View on Amazon
The following product could definitely come in handy – it dries fast and protects from various environmental effects, keeping the body in your vehicle in excellent condition. I should admit that in my opinion, it’s the best spray on bed liner in a can in this price bracket.

Durability
That’s real American quality – I’ve been using this product for a long time to cover various surfaces, and it showed excellent results every time. It adheres well and dries to a tight finish, protecting the body of a car for a long time.

The more layers you cover – the stronger the protection is. But you never forget about proper prep – it determines how well the paint handles all the environmental effects. Also, it deadens sounds, so if you’re tired of them, it is strongly advised to use this.

Quantity
In case you want to refresh the paint, 32-ounce should be enough for most kind of painting jobs. For example, use this not only for bed lining but also to coat the inside of a garden cart of moderate size – in the second case, it took half a can to complete the job. So plan prudently and buy additional boxes if required.

UV-protection
There is no particular UV-protection component in the formula of this product. However, it is still good against the environmental factors. After the months of use – again, no rust developed. Also, I haven’t noticed any discoloration.

Inclusions
None included, so you should keep it in mind to buy either a spray gun or brush. To be honest, both of them did just fine while using this product – layers were neat with a great texture.




5. Custom Coat BLACK 4 Liter Urethane Spray-On Truck Bed Liner Kit with Custom Coat Spray Gun with Regulator
Durability91%
Quantity92%
UV-protection74%
UV-protection88%
5. Custom Coat BLACK 4 Liter Urethane Spray-On Truck Bed Liner Kit with Custom Coat Spray Gun with Regulator
View on Amazon
And the last, but not the least – this product was specially manufactured to be applied on truck beds, concrete, metal, wood, and fiberglass. It’s easy to use and comes in a decent kit.

Durability
I must admit – this product will keep the body of the vehicle looking great for a long time, as it protects from various environmental effects. I’m crossing the muddy roads on my truck almost every day, and the bed lining is still performing well, after using this paint half a year ago.

The result surpassed any of my expectations, as no scratches or rust appeared. If you want sustainable protection – choose this product without any doubt, but remember about prep.

Quantity
A great thing about this product – you can choose from numerous available options to get the perfect kit just for you. So, it would be a good idea to try to predict the amount of painting job before ordering. On a full-size 8ft bed I got the 8-liter kit, still got some extra paint left.

UV-protection
To begin with – among the numerous resistances, I haven’t found anything about UV-protection. So, I’ve never relied on it in this case. However, no color fading or corrosive processes observed – the product protective qualities are just excellent, keeping the body of my truck in excellent condition.

Inclusions
I’ve already told about numerous kits available, and that left a positive impression on me. I was free to choose the quantity and color from various options – that’s always great. Also, the spray gun included – and it works just fine. Sprayed the product with the help of included at 60 psi – was pleased with the result.



So, after you’ve completed reading about the best bed liner kits, I hope it helped you to decide for yourself which product will suit you better for your truck. Maybe you are planning to cover another surface – now you know that it is possible with the help of these kits.

However, if you want to know more information about truck bed liners in general – it is recommended to visit Wikipedia.
Different types of bed liners and their past are described there.
No wonder that after you complete the painting job, there might be some paint remaining to use afterward.

All of those products were in one price bracket, but it’s not the only thing they have in common. You should recognize that every bed liner will demonstrate its best only after you complete the proper formation job. So make sure to clean the dirt – that’s how the protective qualities of the product would be most excellent.

Even the best spray in bedliner requires prep. You know – “show, not tell.” This video demonstrates the process of a proper preparation:

Keep it in mind, that not every kit has the spray gun included. If you order the one with the included gun it’s okay, otherwise, make sure to purchase one in advance. Well, choosing the nice spray gun could be an excellent topic for another article. However, the ones described here are handling the job just fine.

Sure thing, working without protective clothes on could be dangerous, the following may occur:
• skin allergic reactions;
• paint can get into your eyes, causing various issues;
• inhaling the paint may cause respiratory system diseases.

And it’s not the complete list. Worth consulting your doctor before working with paint all by yourself. While the truck bed liner will keep the body of your drive protected, it is advised to think about personal safety, after all.

So make sure to prepare not only your drive but yourself for the job. Always use at least a right old combination of respirator, goggles, and gloves to make sure you stay safe.

Keep it in mind – only thinking about every aspect of the further painting job will lead to excellent results. Let’s sum it up:
• choose paint which suits best for your purposes;
• learn how to prepare the DIY kit for the painting job;
• learn how to store the unused paint after finishing the job;
• protect yourself before getting started with the help of googles, gloves, and respirator;
• perform the preparation job;
• perform the painting job itself.

I hope it was useful information for you. Good luck with making your drive protected with.

 

Read More

Posted by : Bedliner Review

Share: