Huntsman helps Italchimica kick off polyurea project at Milan stadium

Italchimica’s brief was to protect a network of concrete corridors that run throughout the stadium. Each week these passageways are subject to significant wear and tear from visitors. At full capacity the stadium can hold up to 80,000 people. With durability top of mind and a relatively small window in which to complete the project, Italchimica needed to deploy a coating system that could be applied quickly.

It also needed a solution that would look good and be robust enough to withstand thermal and mechanical shocks. Having worked with Huntsman for more than eight years, Italchimica decided to use a polyurea spray formulation based on Suprasec 2054, offering very high tear strength.

Prior to application Italchimica tested the polyurea on an area of concrete in the spectator stands of the stadium. After positive client feedback the company began preparing the corridors for spraying, using a grout based on an epoxy resin to mitigate damage caused to the concrete over time.

Once any holes and cracks had been filled, the polyurea was sprayed and an aliphatic varnish was applied to provide extra longevity. Having taken this additional step, Italchimica expects the system to last for eight to ten years.