Paint

Property

Finishes

Gloss/Sheen/Matte/Semi-gloss/Vinyl silk/Textured

Constituent and Admixtures

Binder/Vehicle/Medium/Film former (known as resin component)

• To convert from the liquid coating to a solid dry film.
• To bind the pigment particles together.
• To provide gloss to the coating.
• To give elasticity to the film.
• To provide resistant to water, chemical and abrasion.
• To hold the pigment in suspension.

Solvent / Thinner (e.g.: alcohol, hydrocarbon, etc)

• Makes the coating liquid enough to be easily and evenly applied by any method.
• It evaporates completely once the coating has been applied.

Pigment (e.g.: Titanium Dioxide, Calcium Carbonate, Talc Pigments, etc)

• To provide opacity or covering power
• To provide colour
• To aid the film-former in protecting the surface.

Drier, hardener, or catalyst

• Ensures the coating converts from the liquid to the solid state
• To speed up the drying process
• To convert epoxy and polyurethane resins into hard films.

Plasticiser

To prevent the film of some coatings being too brittle.

Stabiliser

Required by some coatings to ensure that the complex film-former remains intact.

Anti-skinning agent

Added to some oil-based paints to prevent skinning in the tin.

Extender

• To prevent the pigment from setting to the bottom of the paints
• To make some paints easier to apply
• To add bulk of the paint
• To provide a key in undercoat films for finishing paints to grip
• Lower the cost.

Thixotropic agent

Gives a jelly-like structure to paints, provides anti-sag and high build properties.

Colours

Colors come from either organic or inorganic pigments.

Solvent for the Paints

Water based/Solvent based

Resin Component

The selection is based on the type of substrate. I.e. Epoxy, Alkyd, Acrylic, Polyurethane, Fluorocarbon, Silicone, etc.

Painting System

Primer (used for wood and metal substrate)

The function of the primer is to grip the substrate, to provide protection against corrosion/ dampness, and to provide a good key for remaining coats.

Sealer (used for cement based substrate)

To resist alkali attack from cement based material, to improve adhesion, to seal problematic surfaces (e.g. resinous wood), to stabilize loose surface particles, and to reduce porosity of receiving substrate as to prevent undue absorption of resin from subsequent coats of paints.

Undercoat

To provide opacity thus contains large quantities of pigments, to level out minor irregularities, provides uniform texture, and to improve inter-coating adhesion.

Topcoat/finishing coat

To provide durable layer (protect against UV rays, humidity, chemical, corrosion, algae, abrasion, etc), decorative purposes (color, texture, gloss level), and to provide special requirement includes fire resistant, anti-condensation, etc.

Texture

To give 3D esthetical appearance and decorative purposes.

Drying Time

Touch dry / Hard dry (e.g. 15 min-7 hr)

Adhesion

Adhesion to substrates/ Existing coating/ intercoating

Mechanical Characteristics

Hardness/Flexibility

Resistance

Ultra-violet/ Chemical/ Abrasion/ Fungus/ Algae/ Dirt/ Bacteria/ Alkali/ Wet scrub

Outdoor Durability

Gloss retention/Colour fastness/Ultra-violet

Storage Stability

Settling tendency/Viscosity stability

Thermal Conductivity

± 0.23 W/m K

Water Vapour Transmission

100-200 g/m². 24 hrs

Water Absorption

± 0.12 kg/m².h 0.5

Covering Power

Identify the capacity of a given quantity of the paint of the suitable consistency for application, to cover the extent of area. Also known as spreading capacity of varnish depends upon the type of paint and its constituent, type of surface to be painted, and the number of coats to be applied.

Density

± 1.4-1.50 g/ cm³

Interior VS Exterior Paint

Commonly, interior paint is formulated to be scrubbable and stain/ moisture-resistant, to have hiding ability, to be splatter resistant, and to be able to be touched up.

Exterior paint is formulated for color retention, resistance to fading, flexibility (to withstand expansion and contraction due to weather), mildew resistance, etc. For detail, please refer to exterior paint property.