AI questions: What clear coating to use?

Iv asked ChatGPS a question, in order to get a good answer about a FAQ ‘What clear coating would you recommend for a ski and snowboard topsheet plastic’? Below is the answer…

Short answer up front: don’t rely on a plain epoxy as your UV topcoat for ski/snowboard topsheets — use a 2-component aliphatic (acrylic) polyurethane or a polyaspartic / aliphatic polyurea topcoat for long-term UV stability and abrasion resistance. Epoxy can be made more UV-resistant but most epoxies eventually yellow and are not ideal as the outer UV layer. Promise Epoxy+1

Below are practical product categories and specific, widely used products / manufacturers to consider, with a short note for each.

Recommended types (why)

  • 2-component aliphatic polyurethane (acrylic urethane) — excellent long-term UV stability, gloss retention, good abrasion resistance; widely used as marine/automotive clearcoats. awlgrip.com+1
  • Polyaspartic / aliphatic polyurea topcoats — very fast curing, very UV-stable and abrasion resistant (used for floors/industrial topcoats). Good where fast cure & toughness matter. armorpoxy.com+1
  • Epoxy (UV-inhibited) — some “UV-inhibited” epoxies exist and are used in marine/tabletop work, but they still can yellow over time; if you use epoxy for bond/laminate layers, protect it with an aliphatic PU or polyaspartic topcoat. The Epoxy Resin Store+1

Specific manufacturers & example products to check

(These are real, professional coatings; for a ski/snowboard topcoat you’ll most often pick a 2K aliphatic polyurethane or a polyaspartic.)

  1. Awlgrip / Awlcraft 3000 (Awlgrip) — 2-component acrylic urethane clearcoat used in marine and composite finishing; very good UV resistance and gloss retention. Good choice if you need a durable, repairable clear finish. awlgrip.com+1
  2. Interlux Perfection / Perfection Plus (International/Interlux) — two-part polyurethane varnish/topcoat used in marine topside work; formulated for UV resistance and abrasion resistance. interlux.com+1
  3. PPG (Deltron / PPG two-pack acrylic urethane clears) — automotive/industrial 2K clears with strong UV-stability and proven performance in outdoor exposure. (PPG Deltron family is one widely used example.) ceb.ppgrefinish.com+1
  4. Polyaspartic / Polyurea brands (ArmorPoxy, various floor coating suppliers) — high UV stability and abrasion resistance; used as a topcoat over epoxy in demanding exterior applications. Good if you want super fast cure and hardness. armorpoxy.com+1
  5. Specialty “non-yellowing” aliphatic polyurethane topcoats (Max Seal / industrial aliphatic PUs / Sherwin-Williams aliphatic PU lines) — marketed as non-yellowing UV topcoats; good for protecting graphics and clear topsheets. The Epoxy Experts+1
  6. Epoxy products (if you need an epoxy layer for bonding/lamination) — TotalBoat Clear High Performance Epoxy, Pro Marine, West System and others offer clearer/UV-inhibited epoxies; but treat them as undercoats and protect them with an aliphatic PU/polyaspartic topcoat for long outdoor life. TotalBoat+1

Short application & compatibility notes (important for skis/snowboards)

  • Flexibility & adhesion: skis and snowboards flex — choose coatings specified as flexible/tough enough for composite/laminate use and test for cracking under flex. Many automotive/marine 2K PUs are tolerant of some flex, but always test on your specific topsheet material. (topsheet materials are often PBT, nylon, TPU/ABS and are treated for bonding — check supplier guidance).
  • Surface prep: scuff, clean, and use recommended primer or adhesion promoter from the coating manufacturer. Follow their temp/relative humidity and mix ratios exactly. awlgrip.com
  • Layering: if you already have an epoxy laminate, topcoat with 2K aliphatic polyurethane or polyaspartic rather than leaving epoxy exposed to UV. Epoxy + PU topcoat is a common marine/flooring approach. crystalclearepoxys.com+1
  • Cure time & handling: 2K systems require accurate mixing and have pot life; polyaspartics cure very fast (benefit: quick return to service; drawback: harder to spray for amateurs). armorpoxy.com

Quick selection guide

  • Need best long-term UV & gloss: 2K aliphatic polyurethane (Awlgrip Awlcraft 3000; Interlux Perfection). awlgrip.com+1
  • Need fastest cure + tough surface: polyaspartic topcoat (ArmorPoxy / trade polyaspartic products). armorpoxy.com
  • Need to protect an existing epoxy lamination: put an aliphatic PU or polyaspartic over the epoxy. Don’t leave epoxy as the outermost layer. crystalclearepoxys.com+1

Warnings & final tips

  • Do a small test panel (same topsheet + intended lamination/coat) and do flex, adhesion, and UV exposure tests before committing to a full run. Some coatings may look fine initially and fail under flex/abrasion or yellow slowly. Promise Epoxy+1
  • Ask the coating manufacturer if their product is compatible with your topsheet material (PBT, PA, TPU/ABS) and with any printed graphics/inks you use — they’ll often recommend primers or adhesion promoters.