Durable, coated snow plow blades and method of forming a coated snow plow blade

Abstract

A snow plow blade is provided including a support frame and a moldboard. The moldboard is constructed of a metal material preferably painted with a paint including a polyurethane binding agent. The moldboard surface is contacted with a 100% solids polyurethane component providing an abrasion resistant, non-stick coating chemically bonded to the contacted surfaces of the snow plow blade.

1 . A method of forming an abrasion resistant snow plow blade comprising:
 providing a snow plow blade including a metal support frame and a metal moldboard having a plowing surface;   preparing the plowing surfaces of the moldboard and the support frame for painting;   applying a paint layer to the plowing surfaces of the moldboard and frame, the paint layer including a polyurethane binding component;   allowing the paint to one of dry or cure;   contacting the painted plowing surfaces of the moldboard and frame with a substantially 100 percent solids polyurethane polymer system; and   curing the polyurethane system, wherein the 100% solids polyurethane component chemically interacts and bonds to the paint layer on the painted plowing surfaces of the moldboard and frame.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the moldboard is construction of at least one of steel and aluminum. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein preparing the plowing surface for painting includes at least one of cleaning, sanding, priming and chemically treating the plowing surface. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the paint layer includes at least one of an alkyd, acrylic, epoxy, silicone, polyester and vinyl binding component. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting step includes coating the plowing surface with the substantially 100 percent solids polyurethane system, without pretreating the plowing surface. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially 100 percent solids polyurethane system includes a 100 percent solids aromatic polyurethane system, a 100 percent solids aliphatic polyurethane system and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       7 . A method of forming a reinforced snow plow blade having a plow surface with a low co-efficient of friction, the method comprising:
 providing a snow plow support frame having a front portion;   forming a moldboard from a metal substrate, the moldboard having a forward face, a rear face, a top edge, a bottom edge and opposing side edges, the moldboard having a an arcuate cross-sectional shape;   cleaning the moldboard;   applying a paint layer to the forward face, the rear face, the top edge, the bottom edge and each opposing side edge of the moldboard, the paint layer including at least one binding component, the binding component comprising polyurethane;   contacting the untreated and mechanically undisturbed paint layer on at least one of the front face, the top edge, the bottom edge and each opposing side edge of the moldboard with a 100 percent solids elastomeric polymer system;   curing the polymer system, wherein the 100 percent solids elastomeric polymer system chemically interacts and forms a molecular bond with at least one component of the paint layer; and   securing the moldboard to the front portion of the support frame.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the moldboard is constructed of a steel material. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein applying the paint layer includes allowing the paint layer to dry. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the paint layer also includes at least one of an alkyd, acrylic, epoxy, silicone, polyester and vinyl binding component. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the contacting step includes contacting the untreated and mechanically undisturbed paint layer before it is dry. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the 100 percent solids elastomeric polymer system is a polyurethane-based system. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the 100 percent solids polyurethane system includes a 100 percent solids aromatic polyurethane system, a 100 percent solids aliphatic polyurethane system and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       14 . A method of repairing a painted metal snow plow blade including a support frame and a moldboard, the method comprising:
 removing the moldboard from the frame;   applying a paint layer over a crack or chip on the moldboard, the paint layer including a polyurethane resin;   contacting the untreated and mechanically undisturbed paint layer with a 100 percent solids polyurethane system;   curing the polymer system, wherein the 100 percent solids polyurethane system chemically interacts and forms a molecular bond with at least one component of the paint layer; and   resecuring the moldboard to the front portion of the support frame.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the 100 percent solids polyurethane system includes a 100 percent solids aromatic polyurethane system, a 100 percent solids aliphatic polyurethane system and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       16 . In combination with a snow plow blade comprised of a snow plow support frame, a reinforced snow plow moldboard comprising:
 a metal substrate having a forward face, a rear face, a top edge, a bottom edge and opposing side edges, the substrate also having a generally arcuate cross-sectional shape providing a plowing surface;   a paint layer applied to the forward face, the rear face, the top edge, the bottom edge and each opposing side edge of the moldboard, the paint layer including a polyurethane resin; and   a 100 percent solids polyurethane system contacting and molecularly bound to the paint layer.   
   
   
       17 . The moldboard of  claim 16 , wherein the paint layer also includes at least one of an alkyd, acrylic, epoxy, silicone, polyester and vinyl binding component. 
   
   
       18 . The moldboard of  claim 16 , wherein the 100 percent solids polyurethane system includes a 100 percent solids aromatic polyurethane system, a 100 percent solids aliphatic polyurethane system and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       19 . A durable, low friction snow plow blade, the snow plow blade comprising:
 a support frame having a front plowing face and a rear face configured to mount to a snow plow vehicle,   a moldboard constructed at least in part of a metal material, the moldboard having a front plowing surface, a rear surface secured to the front face of the frame, a top edge, a bottom edge and opposing side edges, the moldboard having a generally arcuate cross-sectional shape;   a paint layer applied to the plowing surface of the moldboard, the paint layer including a polyurethane resin containing at least one functionally reactive substituent group; and   a 100 percent solids polyurethane system contacting and molecularly bound to the at least one functionally reactive substituent group of the paint layer.   
   
   
       20 . The snow plow blade of  claim 16 , wherein the moldboard is constructed of a steel material. 
   
   
       21 . The snow plow blade of  claim 16 , wherein the paint layer also includes at least one of an alkyd, acrylic, epoxy, silicone, polyester and vinyl binding component.