A
liquid, or paste that is applied to
something, especially wood, to darken it or
change its color without hiding its texture
or grain. Unlike paint, which when applied,
lies on the surface; Stains penetrate pores
of object and is harder to remove. A
"Binder" is usually needed to provide
durability. Stains share the same properties
as paint, except for the Binder element.
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Paints:
Paint is
mixture of a pigment and a binding medium,
usually thinned with a solvent to form a
liquid vehicle. The term includes lacquer,
portland cement paint, printing ink,
calcimine, and whitewash. Paint is used to
decorate or protect surfaces and is
generally applied in thin coats which dry
(by evaporation or by oxidation of the
vehicle) to an adhesive film. Industrial
finishes are usually applied by spraying or
immersion and are often hardened by baking.
Pigments, finely ground, impart color
(including black and white) and affect the
consistency, crack resistance, and flow
characteristics of paint. They may be
manipulated to produce glossy, satin, or
flat finishes. Oil paints are pigments
dispersed in a drying oil such as linseed
oil, castor oil, or tung oil. These oils are
diluted with a thinner, usually turpentine;
metallic salts that catalyze oxidation of
the oil may be added to increase the rate of
drying. For water paints, pigment is
dissolved in a mixture of water with a
binder such as glue or casein, or emulsified
in a latex polymer. Latex emulsion paint
provides such excellent durability and color
retention that it now dominates the paint
market. Enamel paints contain varnish and
usually dry to a hard, glossy finish.
Industrial lacquers (widely used on
automobiles and furniture) are valued for
rapid drying to a hard finish. The vehicle
is commonly pyroxylin in an organic solvent.
Baked acrylic finishes have recently become
popular for industrial products such as
automobiles and appliances.
So,
basically, paint is a liquid which dries to
form a surface that protects and
beautifies... and consists mainly of:
-Pigments,
which provide opacity and color and can
affect the degree of gloss
-Binders,
which keep the powdery pigment together. It
determines the durability, adhesion,
cohesion and flexibility of the paint.
-Solvents
(and thinners and dispersing agents), which
evaporate after application to leave behind
the film of bound pigment.
What is
a paint system?
A paint system is a group of products that
give a desired result when they are used
together. Normally a paint system consists
of a primer, undercoat and topcoat.
What's
the difference between latex and alkyd
(oil)?
The basic difference is in the binders.
Latex paint binds the particles of pigment
with a latex such as acrylic or vinyl, while
oil paint uses a binder or resin that is
derived from a vegetable oil such as linseed
or soya bean.
What's
the difference between paint and stain?
Paint colors a surface by forming a thin
film. Stain colors a surface by penetrating
it.
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Waxes:
Any of
various natural, oily or greasy
heat-sensitive substances, consisting of
hydrocarbons or esters of fatty acids that
are insoluble in water but soluble in
non-polar organic solvents. Beeswax and
Cerumen the most popular. Many waxes now
contain pigments for coloring. When
referring to finishing, waxes need to be
applied more often over time to keep luster.
