VFI®-542 High Pressure Spray Bedliner

VFI®-542 High Pressure Spray Bedliner

VFI-542 High Pressure Spray Bedliner is a fast setting, 100% solids, polyurea hybrid spray-on bedliner. It provides truck beds with a durable layer of protection from impact and abrasion. Once cured, it forms a seamless membrane that keeps water from penetrating the surface, preventing rust and corrosion. With a fast-setting speed, the fine texture it creates prevents cargo from slipping and skidding. VFI-542 is a versatile material with excellent properties, including tensile strength and elongation, to protect and lengthen the life of the surface. 

VFI-542 High Pressure Spray Bedliner from VFI is a polyurea hybrid spray-on bedliner with a fast setting speed that provides a durable, texturized finish.

Features & Benefits

  • Formulated for maximum impact and abrasion resistance
  • Superior slip and skid resistant from cargo movement
  • Delivers watertight seal for superior rust and corrosion protection
  • Eliminates vibration noise and offers sound dampening capabilities
  • Extended protection from wear while still maintaining flexibility

Instructions for Use:  

Surface Preparation  

Before applying VFI-542 High Pressure Spray Bedliner, the surface must be properly prepared to ensure adhesion and prevent peeling. When spraying a truck bed, remove all hardware and accessories that you do not want to be sprayed. Clean all surfaces with acetone or MEK to remove any oil, films, or detergents that could affect adhesion. Allow your cleaning agents to dry before taping up the truck bed. For clean-cut lines, use wire tape to define the edges of the bed liner on the surface. Place the wire on the inside and the tape on the outside of the cut line. Use masking tape and plastic sheets to cover the rest of the truck or any areas you want to protect from overspray. 

Scuff the area where the coating will be applied with a wire cup brush sander or use 40-grit sandpaper. Avoid sanding to bare metal to keep the integrity of the truck finish. Applying VFI-542 to bare metal could otherwise cause the bed liner to peel off from the surface over time. Once scuffed, clean the surface again with acetone or MEK and allow it to dry. 

To increase the adhesion of VFI-542 on certain surfaces, one of VFI’s approved primers should be used (VFI-#11, VFI-1016, or VFI-1017). The selected primer will depend on the application. Primers are usually not required on properly prepared metal surfaces. 

Application 

VFI-542 should be used by a trained applicator who has experience using a high-pressure, plural-component spray system. The high-pressure spray rig should be able to provide a minimum 2000 PSI of constant pressure. Before using VFI-542, bring the material to a minimum temperature of 65°F. As a two-component product, the B side (Poly) must be premixed until uniform before spraying. The time it takes to mix will depend on volume and mixing method. Ensure you are in a well-ventilated area and using all the necessary PPE, including an approved respirator.  

The temperature should be between 40°F – 100°F during application. The cure speed will increase if the temperature passes 72°F. Carefully plan your spray pattern for even coating distribution. Start with the vertical side and back panels before working down toward the end of the truck bed. Spray until desired thickness is reached on all surfaces. VFI recommends applying the bedliner at 80 mils. As a final step for texture, spray over but not directly onto the surface until the desired finish is achieved.  

Allow the material to set for at least 20 minutes before removing the tape and plastic coverings. To remove the wire tape, pull at a 45-degree angle toward the sprayed surface. Remove all plastic sheeting and masking tape before reassembling hardware and accessories. The surface should be ready for light use within 4 hours and full use within 24 hours. Full cure can be achieved in 5 days.  

Cleanup 

VFI recommends the use of xylene or MEK when cleaning spray equipment. Flush the cleaning solution through spray lines until the bed liner is completely removed.  

Safety  

*Always read the safety data sheet before working with chemicals 

Use chemicals only as directed and for their intended purpose. Do not dispose of chemicals down the drain. Most chemicals must be disposed of as hazardous waste. 

PPE to avoid all unnecessary exposure:  

  • Eye protection – wear safety glasses and any additional eye protection as necessary 
  • Hand protection – wear chemically resistant protective gloves (nitrile, butyl, or neoprene) 
  • Skin and body protection – wear suitable protective clothing 
  • Respiratory protection – in case of insufficient ventilation, wear suitable respiratory equipment. Respirator selection must be based on known or anticipated exposure levels, the hazards of the product, and the safe working limits of the selected respirator 

Product Limitations  

Isocyanate in the A side may be irritating to the skin and toxic if inhaled. Avoid prolonged breathing of vapors or repeated skin contact by wearing the proper personal protective equipment, including an approved respirator.  

  • Incompatible materials – A side: strong bases, acids, alcohols, amines, and water. B side: oxidizers 
  • Conditions to avoid – heat and incompatible materials  
  • Chemical stability – stable under normal storage conditions 
  • Reactivity & hazardous reactions – no dangerous reactions known under normal use 
  • Hazardous decomposition products – may include, and are not limited to, oxides of carbon. Also, oxides of nitrogen and isocyanates for the A side  

Potential Health Hazards  

  • May cause stomach distress, nausea, or vomiting if swallowed. 
  • May cause respiratory tract irritation. Components of the A side may also cause allergy or asthma symptoms and breathing difficulties.  
  • May cause skin irritation: redness, edema, drying, defatting, and cracking of the skin. Repeated exposure to the B side components can result in absorption through the skin, causing a significant health hazard.  
  • Causes serious eye irritation: discomfort, pain, excess blinking and tear production, marked redness, and swelling of the conjunctiva.  

*If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, seek medical assistance or attention. Call a poison control center or doctor if swallowed. 

Click here for more information on the full technical data sheet.

Application Methods:

  • Spray Spray

Available Packaging:

  • Tote
  • Drum

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost?

VFI strives to keep our prices competitive, but it ultimately depends on the availability of raw materials and the materials used in the formula. Also, polyurea hybrids when compared to pure polyurea coatings provide a good balance of properties, moisture insensitivity, and price.

What happens if the bedliner is damaged? Is it repairable?

Yes, Volatile Free, Inc. offers a bedliner repair material called VFI-520 QS Bedliner Repair that you can use on scratches, blisters, and other damages. It can be applied by brush or injected using the VFI-7500 Qwik Spray Gun.

How to clean spray on bedliner?

Regularly remove dirt, debris, and other grime that has built up from use. You can use a hose or a pressure washer to clean the truck bed with soap and water. Avoid harsh chemicals that may damage the material.

How long do polyurea hybrid coatings last?

When applied correctly and regularly maintained, a spray on truck bedliner should last the entire life of the truck. If repair is needed, VFI offers a thickened polyurea hybrid as a repair material for scratches, gouges, and other blemishes.

Will the bedliner fade over time?

Yes. All VFI bedliners are aromatic, which means they are not UV-stable. If you want to maintain the color of your bedliner, you’ll need to apply a clear aliphatic top coat like VFI-2580.

How soon can the truck bed be used after spraying?

We recommend waiting at least 4 hours after application for light use of your truck bed and a full day (24 hours) before heavy-duty use. The bedliner will gain full strength and formulated properties 5 days after application.

How much material do I need to coat a truck bed?

When spraying VFI-544, we recommend using 6 cartridges (a full case). A full case is just under 2 gallons of material and gets you around 100 mils thick without any loss.

VFI-542 and VFI-543 can be ordered in drums or totes, so about 2 gallons from those containers will also coat one truck bed at around 100 mil thickness without any loss.

How thick should I apply the bedliner?

VFI recommends applying the material at a minimum of 80 mils for long-lasting results.

How long does it take to spray a truck bed?

It can take 2-4 hours to prepare the surface by sanding or priming, tape off areas you don’t want material to get onto, and then spray the truck bed.

Do I need a primer?

Primers are usually not required on properly prepared metal surfaces. Scuff the areas you are coating with a wire cup brush sander or 40-grit sandpaper. If you need a primer, VFI recommends either VFI-1016 Steel Primer or VFI-1017 Porous Surface Primer.

What surface prep is required before applying spray on bedliner?

The surface must be cleaned with acetone before application. Tape up the truck bed with wire trim tape and shield surfaces from overspray with plastic or paper sheets. Scuff sand the area you are coating with a wire cup brush sander or 40-grit sandpaper. Primers are usually not required if the metal is properly prepared.

What temperature should I use the material at?

VFI spray on bedliners must be sprayed between 40°F and 100°F. The cure speed of the material will increase if the temperature passes 72°F.

Does your spray on bedliner come in different colors?

VFI high-pressure, low-pressure, and Qwik Spray bedliners can be pigmented. The premium colors offered are light gray, red, blue, pewter, yellow, and green. These materials are not UV color stable and require an aliphatic top coat like VFI-2580 to prevent fading.

What kind of packaging do your bedliners come in?

For our high pressure bedliner, it can be purchased in drums or totes. The low pressure bedliner can be purchased in pails, drums or totes. The Qwik Spray formula comes in cartridges with 6 cartridges per case.

Is high pressure material better than low pressure material?

While some manufacturers will tell you that high pressure is better than low pressure bedliners, they both perform as expected. Our low-pressure spray bedliner is an economical option with a lower hardness (40 A) and a slightly slower cure than our high-pressure version. It may provide a slightly thicker texture, better for skid resistance. Either version will still provide the same quality and durability.

What are the application options for your bedliner?

VFI spray on bedliner comes in three formulas: high pressure, low pressure, and Qwik Spray for different processing needs.

Does the spray on truck bedliner withstand temperature extremes?

VFI bedliners offer extended protection from wear in extreme temperatures while maintaining flexibility to prevent cracking. They also form a seamless membrane to keep water from penetrating the surface, preventing rust and corrosion.

How are spray in bedliners better than drop in liners?

Spray in bedliners offer more durability than drop in liners. Drop in liners have to frequently be replaced because they crack, break, and warp over time. Spray in bedliners are an almost permanent solution to protect your truck bed. They form a seamless film over the prepared metal to keep out dirt, debris, moisture, and other contaminants. They are more likely to last the entire lifetime of your truck.

What is the difference between an aliphatic and aromatic bedliner?

Aliphatic bedliners are UV stable and will not fade over time, while aromatic bedliners will fade and chalk over time when in direct sunlight. Most bedliner on the market are aromatic, but VFI offers a clear aliphatic top coat to prevent color fading and degradation.

What is your spray on bedliner made of?

VFI’s bedliners are a cost-effective blend of both polyurethane and polyurea. They offer the best characteristics of each material, including properties, cost, and moisture sensitivity.