Liquid Paint...What is it?PVDF FLUROPON, DURANAR, ADS

Paint may be defined as a thin layer of plastic film containing resin, binder and pigments  that is applied to the surface of an object to provide protection.  

 The primary component of paint is referred to as the resin. The type of paint comes from the resin system (Polyester, Acrylic, Polyurethane Epoxy). It is not uncommon for a coating to contain several resins, which help the coating perform to specific requirements. After the paint is applied, paint is cured which causes the product to solidify, become harder, improve adhesion, change gloss and other physical characteristics.  

Industrial coatings are applied in thin film, which is measured in mils (.001 inches). After application, prior to curing, the film is measured in wet mils using a device called a wet film gauge. When the coating is cured the dry film thickness is typically measured with a magnetic or inductive gauge, which also measures the thickness in mils.

Paint Classifications:  Paints can be classified by function, curing system Volatile Components and Resin 

a.     Function: Function can be describe as Filler, Surfacer, Size Coat, Primer, Tie Coat and Clear Coat.

b.     Curing System: Different types of curing systems are Air Dry, Air Dry/Force Dry, Bake, Catalyzed, and Radiation.

c.      Volatile Components: Solvent, Waterborne (Water Based and Water Reducible) and 100% Solids.

d.    Resin System: Acrylic, Alkyd, Epoxy, Polyester Polyurethane, Vinyl and Kynar

 What’s in Paint?  The exact composition of a particular paint is often complex and     proprietary. In general most paints contain the following. Resins, Pigments, Reducers and Additives

a.     Resin: Resins are the compounds in the paint that form the film and hold the pigment in place. They are plastic materials that wet the surface and then undergo a transformation to provide a protective film. Resins play a major role in the properties of the final film.

b.     Pigments: Pigments are the materials added to the paint to give it color or to enhance certain physical properties of the coating. The selection of pigments is done on the basis of physical needs, durability, gloss, color fastness, and chemical exposure. Pigments are both naturally occurring as well as synthetic.

c.     Reducers: Reducers are used to serve different purposes. Using an Active Solvent will reduce the viscosity. Diluent Solvent is a liquid used to extend a solution, but definitely weakens the power of the active solvent. Thinner Solvent is a liquid, which can extend a solution but does not impair the power of the active solvent.

d.    Additives: Additives are usually paint type and specification specific. These can be added to enhance gloss, hardness and other characteristics.