People in the paint and coatings industry are likely familiar with the terms Paint, Coating, and Architectural Coating, but do you know the differences between them?
Paint, or the paint we use in homes or hobbies, such as wall paint, furniture paint, fence paint, primarily emphasizes beauty and surface coverage. Even small automotive paints are considered paints, unlike Coatings, which are products that coat various materials for specific purposes, such as preventing corrosion, withstanding environments, or adding special properties. For example, coatings for coating steel in industrial plants, UV-resistant coatings for plastic products, or special coatings with specific properties such as non-slip, fire-resistant, etc. Generally, coatings are more expensive than paints due to their more complex, specialized properties. Architectural Coating, on the other hand, is a subcategory of Paint used for buildings and structures, subject to more stringent safety and environmental standards.
– Pigments are fine, insoluble powders in the liquid portion of the paint. Common pigments include titanium dioxide (white) and zinc oxide (ZnO).
– Polymer binders, or “paint vehicles,” are the main components that cause binding, often using acrylics, epoxies, alkyds, etc. They bind the pigments together and form a paint film adhering to the surface.
– Extender minerals such as calcium carbonate (CaCO3), Calcined Clay, Kaolin and Silica, Talc, Mica, and Nepheline Syenite help reduce costs, increase volume, and modify certain paint properties.
– Water or solvents aid in the movement of pigments and binders to the surface and film formation.
Additionally, modifiers are added to improve properties, but the types and ratios of these components differ to produce the desired products, such as thickeners or gellants like natural cellulosic Natrosol and synthetic Aquaflow, which have different properties and can be combined to further optimize paint or coating properties.
Furthermore, there are dispersants and surface tension reducers like the new silicone-free EASY-WET, which is highly efficient in enabling paint or coating films to spread evenly on substrates (Substrate Wetting), ensuring good adhesion and uniform coverage. It helps prevent cratering defects, resulting in a smooth, defect-free paint surface.
In summary, with various components playing different roles, we can develop paint and coating formulations to produce products that meet specific needs, whether emphasizing aesthetics, special properties, or performance efficiency.
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