1.

Bittiness

The presence of particles of gel flocculated material or foreign matter in a

coating material, or projecting from the surface of a film.
The term seedy specifically denotes the presence of bits that have
developed in a coating material during storage.
The term peppery is sometimes used when the bits are small and uniformly
distributed.

Bleeding
The diffusion of a soluble coloured substance through a coating
material from beneath, providing an undesirable staining or
discolouration.
Examples of materials, which may give rise to this defect, are certain
types of the following materials: bituminous paints, wood
preservatives, oleoresins from wood knots, organic pigments and
stains and coal tar. Bitumen and coat tar enamels also.

Blistering
The formation of dome shaped projections or blisters in the dry film of a
coating material by local loss of adhesion and lifting of the film from the
underlying surface.
Note - Such blisters may contain liquid, vapour, gas or crystals.

Chalking
The formation of a friable, powdery layer on the surface of the film of a coating
material caused by disintegration of the binding medium due to disruptive factors
during weathering.
Note: Chalking can be considerably affected by the choice and concentration of
pigment.

Cissing

The formation of small areas of the wet film of a coating material where the coating
material has receded leaving holidays in the film.
Cracking

Generally the splitting of the dry film of the coating material usually as a result of
ageing. Specifically a break down in which the cracks penetrate at least one coat
and which may be expected to result ultimately in complete failure.

 Hair cracking
Cracking that comprises of fine cracks, which may not penetrate the top
coat, they occur erratically and at random.
 Checking
Cracking that comprises of fine cracks, which do not penetrate the top coat
and are distributed over the surface giving the semblance of a small pattern.
 Crocodiling/alligatoring
A drastic type of crazing producing a pattern resembling the hide of a
crocodile or alligator.
 Mud cracking
A network of deep cracks that form as the film of a coating material dries,
especially when it has been applied to an absorbent substrate. Mud cracking
is associated primarily with highly pigmented water borne paints.

Cratering
The formation of small bowl shaped depressions in the film of a coating material,
caused by escaping solvent or gases. High viscosity paint will not flow to fill any
depressions, resulting in small bowls and craters.

Curtaining/sagging

downward movement of a coat between application and setting (caused by over

application), that results in an uneven area of coat having a thick lower
edge. The resulting sag is usually restricted to a local area of a vertical surface
and may have the characteristic appearance of a draped curtain.
 Run
A narrow downward movement of a coat that may be caused by the
collection of excess quantities of paint at irregularities in the surface eg
cracks and holes, the excess material continuing to flow after the
surrounding material has set.
 Tear
A small run resembling a teardrop.

Flaking

The coating material ages, becomes brittle and starts to detach from the substrate
in the form of flakes or scales. Oxidising paints are especially vulnerable (natural oils
and resins).

Holidays

This is caused by faulty application techniques, seen as areas where the film of a
coating material is of insufficient thickness or where there is a complete absence of
coating materials on random areas of the substrate.
Lifting

Softening, swelling or separation from the substrate of a dry coat, caused by a lack
of observance of the stated over coating time.

Orange peel
The uniform pock marked appearance, in particular of a sprayed film, resembling the
peel of an orange due to the failure of the film to flow out to a level surface. This is
caused by paint viscosity problems or by applicator technique.

Ropiness (Brushmarks)

Pronounced brush marks that have not flowed out because of the poor levelling
properties of the coating material, caused by brushing when film is almost dry, or
when paint viscosity is too high.

Wrinkling/rivelling
The development of wrinkles in the film of a coating material during drying. Usually
due to the initial formation of a surface skin, trapping solvent below the surface.

Rash (or Spot Rusting)

This is caused by rogue peaks or by contamination of the paint film by foreign

matter, such as grit or dirt etc.