EMCAT+ Now Available to Everyone

A Personal Note from Jeff Weiss

Back in October 2024, you may have read about Target Coatings launching a new brand called Emcat+®.

At the time, maybe your reaction was, “Hey, this stuff sounds cool, but what the heck are they talking about?”

Well, not wanting to be accused of overselling my years of work in the lab by creating a massive new brand announcement, I took a soft-sell approach.

(It’s not the first time — I’ve repeatedly been told by venture capital guys that I am a professional soft seller of some of the most unique waterborne wood coatings technology in the past 40 years.)

Hey, I love a compliment, so whereas the full Emcat+® line had been available only to a small group of professional wood finishers, I am now breaking free of my self-restraint and swinging for the proverbial fences by offering both products — Si427 Sealer / Isolator and EC2A Topcoat Kit — to all who want to use them.

So, why did I wait nine months to fully open Emcat+ System to everyone, especially after nearly three years of work in the lab to deliver pro-level performance?

Well, we live in a funny world these days — one in which successes are mere social media clicks away, and disasters live on forever.

So, not wanting to be one of the “pop-up companies” that flame out before their flash is even seen, I wanted to ensure my Emcat+ system is everything I found it to be behind my laboratory doors.

Call me slightly cynical, but the wood coatings industry is tripping over “me too” brands, and they are fighting over every last one of the finishing booth heroes that pop up on the social media radar.

Let’s face it, folks, it’s ugly out there. What was once a technology-driven industry has now become 100% commodity-driven. It’s a dirty game of “me too,” formula hustlers, and markets flooded by offshore brands.

So what’s a well-established boutique formulator like Target Coatings supposed to do?

My answer was to make something completely different.

Thus, with no more fanfare than I allow myself at any other time in my long history of top-shelf formulating, I bring you Emcat+.

Part 1: The Emcat+ ® Acrylic Polymer Coating System

Since founding Target Coatings nearly 40 years ago, my mission has been to innovate — to create smarter, safer, and more versatile solutions that exceed the performance expectations of professional wood finishers.

Well, Emcat+ is our most advanced waterborne wood finish yet.

What Makes Emcat+ ® Different?

Many waterborne coatings struggle with dense woods and oily exotics — and they often fail to deliver the depth and warmth of solvent-based finishes. Emcat+ changes that…without exposing you to toxic catalysts.

Here’s how it works:

Cationic Resin Technology: Emcat+® is built on a foundation of ultra-clear acrylic polymers which carry a positive molecular charge, enabling them to bond stronger, harder, and faster to challenging substrates, including oily woods, synthetics, and metals like brass and stainless steel.

True Color Reveal: Emcat+ finishes mimic the visual richness of traditional solvent-based coatings, enhancing natural wood tones without the hazards of flammable solvents.

Cross-Compatibility: The system bonds seamlessly to previously finished surfaces, including those coated with anionic, conventional finishes—making it an excellent choice for refinishing or blending jobs.

Personal, Environmental and Workplace Safety: The Emcat+® system does not use highly toxic isocyanate or aziridine catalysts typically found in 2K coatings. Instead, Emcat+® uses a safer, proprietary, acid-functional organosilane compound catalyst, which does not have the long term exposure health risks that are common with isocyanate (blocked, or otherwise) and polyfunctional aziridine.

What Products Make Up the Emcat+ ® System?

Emcat+ is available in two key components:

Emcat+ EC2A 2K Acrylic Topcoat: This two-component (2K) topcoat is the most chemical-resistant finish Target Coatings has ever made.

Designed as a replacement for 2K urethanes, Emcat+® EC2A is NOT a urethane — it is an acrylic compound — and our proprietary Emcat+® EC2B catalyst is a safe, non-isocyanate, and non-aziridine alternative designed to provide a complete chemical bond without the health risks associated with conventional 2K systems.

Emcat+ Si427 Sealer & Isolator: This single-component (1K) sealer that acts as a “barrier coat” for challenging substrates such as acidic, oily or chemically treated wood.

Emcat+ Si427 Sealer & Isolator can be used underneath the EC2A topcoat or any Emtech® brand waterborne wood finish to provides exceptional substrate isolation, clarity, and adhesion on both porous and non-porous surfaces.

I hope that gives you a good overview of what Emcat+ is all about.

In part 2, I’ll show you how Emcat+ performed in the ASTM D1308-20 chemical resistance test.

If you’re not familiar, this is the standardized test that evaluates how well a given coating stands up to a variety of common/household substances that your project might encounter (such as coffee, bleach, alcohol, oil, etc). Here are those results:

Part 2: Emcat+ Chemical Resistance Testing

A major milestone in the development of the Emcat+ system was verifying its “real-world performance.”

So, I conducted extensive testing using ASTM Standard D1308-20, which evaluates the resistance of coatings to household and light-commercial chemicals, noting changes like discoloration, loss of gloss, blistering, softening, swelling, and loss of adhesion.

TEST SETUP OVERVIEW:

Date Initiated: October 4, 2024

Substrate: Walnut veneer bonded to MDF core

Sealer: Emcat+ Si427 Sealer (2 coats @ 3 mils wet)

Topcoat: Emcat+ EC2A-30 Satin (2 coats @ 3 mils wet), catalyzed with EC2B Catalyst at 10% volume

Dry Time: 18 hours for sealer, 24 hours for topcoat before testing

Application: HVLP spray equipment under ambient shop conditions

Application Notes: The sealer and topcoat were applied in accordance with ASTM protocols, including sanding, cleaning with a water/alcohol solution, and full curing under controlled humidity and temperature. Coating integrity and adhesion were inspected prior to chemical testing.

REAGENTS TESTED:

The test exposed the finish to different reagents categorized into Food Group and Solvent Group substances:

Food Group: Bourbon, black coffee, ketchup, mustard, olive oil, red wine, white vinegar, water (cold/hot/frozen), etc.

Solvent Group: Acetone, Clorox® wipes, Dawn® detergent, denatured alcohol, Purell®, isopropyl alcohol, lacquer thinner, mineral oil, etc.

Each reagent was applied in two forms:

Covered Spot Test (3.1.1): Covered with a cup for 15 min, 1 hour, and 4 hours

Uncovered Spot Test (3.1.2): Left open to air-dry for the same intervals

Post-test cleaning was done using a microfiber cloth with warm tap water.

TEST RESULTS:

Covered Spot Test Summary (ASTM D1308-20)

REAGENT	15 MIN.	1 HOUR	4 HOURS	POST-TEST RESULT
Bourbon Alcohol	No Effect	No Effect	No Effect	No witness line visible
Black Coffee (Hot)	No Effect	No Effect	No Effect	No witness line visible
Ketchup	No Effect	No Effect	Slight Stain	Stain Washed Away
Mustard (Yellow)	No Effect	No Effect	Slight Stain	Stain Washed Away
Olive Oil	No Effect	No Effect	No Effect	No witness line visible
Red Wine	No Effect	No Effect	No Effect	No witness line visible
White Vinegar	No Effect	Slight Swell	Slight Swell	Fully Recovered
Acetone	Slight Swell	Slight Swell	Slight Swell	Fully Recovered
Clorox® Wipe	No Effect	Slight Haze	Slight Haze	Fully Recovered
Dawn® Detergent	No Effect	No Effect	Slight Haze	Fully Recovered
Denatured Alcohol	Slight Blush	Slight Blush	Slight Blush	Fully Recovered
Isopropyl Alcohol (91%)	Slight Haze	Slight Haze	Slight Haze	Fully Recovered
Lacquer Thinner	Slight Soften	Slight Soften	Slight Soften	Fully Recovered
Mineral / Baby Oil	No Effect	No Effect	No Effect	No witness line visible

Here is what jumped out to me in the covered spot test results:

There was “No Effect” from bourbon, black coffee, olive oil, red wine, and mineral / baby oil.

There were “Temporary Effects” with full recovery from white vinegar, acetone, Clorox® wipes, Dawn® detergent, denatured alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and lacquer thinner.

There was “Minor Staining” with ketchup and mustard but it was easily cleaned away.

Now for the results of the…

Uncovered Spot Test Summary (ASTM D1308-20)

REAGENT	15 MIN.	1 HOUR	4 HOURS	POST-TEST RESULT
Bourbon Alcohol	No Effect	No Effect	No Effect	No witness line visible
Black Coffee (Hot)	No Effect	No Effect	No Effect	No witness line visible
Ketchup	No Effect	No Effect	Sight Stain	Stain washed away
Mustard (Yellow)	No Effect	No Effect	Sight Stain	Stain washed away
Red Wine	No Effect	No Effect	No Effect	No witness line visible
Acetone	No Effect	No Effect	No Effect	No witness line visible
Colorox® Wipe	No Effect	Slight Haze	Slight Haze	Fully Recovered
Denatured Alcohol	No Effect	Slight Blush	Slight Blush	Fully Recovered
Isopropyl Alcohol (91%)	Slight Haze	No Effect	No Effect	Fully Recovered
Lacquer Thinner	Slight Soften	Slight Soften	Slight Soften	Fully Recovered
Mineral / Baby Oil	No Effect	No Effect	No Effect	No witness line visible

Here is a closeup look at some of the individual panels…

MY SUMMARY CONCLUSION:

The Emcat+ system demonstrated exceptional chemical resistance under both covered and uncovered testing protocols.

Reactions — when present — were cosmetic, minor, and completely reversible. No permanent damage or witness lines were observed.

Result: Emcat+ meets ASTM D1308-20 standards for clear coatings in demanding residential and commercial environments. Its clarity, adhesion, and resilience offer reliable protection without the use of isocyanates or aziridines.

That’s a good place to stop for Part 2.

In Part 3 (below), we’ll wrap everything up; I’ll show you some examples of finished projects; and help you know if and when Emcat+ is the right solution for you.

Part 3: A Better AND Safer Way to Finish with No Isocyanates or Aziridines

If there’s one thing I want you to take a way from this post, it’s this:

Traditional 2K coatings rely on toxic isocyanates or aziridines to complete the curing process. These compounds are known for serious health risks with repeated exposure.

Emcat+ is different.

Our water-based system seals, beautifies and protects as well — and often BETTER — than solvent-based systems but WITHOUT toxic isocyanates or arizidines.

Instead, Emtech+ uses acid-functional resins and a proprietary blend of silane compounds to form a complete 2K bond — again, without those toxic compounds.

The result is:

• Exceptional adhesion and sealing, even on traditionally troublesome substrates

• The most chemical-resistant topcoat Target Coatings has ever made in its near 40-year history

• A full cure cycle in under 36 hours

• Extended pot life for real-world working conditions

• Significantly reduced health and safety risks for you and your working environment

Plus, Emcat+ is engineered for versatility and reliability across a range of applications.

You can use it for…

Interior furniture and cabinetry

High-wear architectural millwork

Exotic hardwoods and oily substrates

Synthetic panels and decorative metals

Light-duty exterior applications

So, the question is…

Is Emcat+ Right for You?

If you’re a professional finisher or serious DIYer using traditional 2K systems and want better safety, clarity, and substrate flexibility, yes, Emcat+ is built for you.

Designed for use with HVLP, airless, air-assisted airless spray equipment, and automated applicators, Emcat+ delivers premium results with a low hazard profile.

Ready to Experience Emcat+?

I’d like to personally invite you to try the Emcat+ ® Acrylic Polymer Coating System and see the difference for yourself.

After more than two years of research, development and testing (in the lab and in the shop), I consider it the new standard for professional-level wood finishing.

If you’d like to see the full ASTM report or a product spec sheet, please contact me here.

And if you have other thoughts or questions about the performance of Emcat+ and/or reducing your exposure to isocyanates and arizidines, please share them in the comments section below.