HEMPEL
HEMPEL's Protective & Decorative Paints
Code of Practice No. 96.14
Airless Spray Application
Summary of Airless Spray applica-
tion:
• High pressure spraying
• The fastest method among most
common application methods
Allows application of coats with high
film thickness and paint with high
viscosity
Areas of use
Airless spray is ideal for application to
large areas.
Principle
The principle of airless spray is that the
atomisation of the paint takes place due
to the sudden release of high pressure,
when paint is forced through a small
nozzle. There is no air involved in the
atomisation.
How to use Airless Spray
The idea behind airless spray applica-
tion is to obtain a uniform paint film
without voids or holidays, and to secure
the best possible adhesion to substrate.
When spraying, the gun should be held
at right angles and at a distance of ap-
proximately 30 cm (1 foot) to the
substrate. Try to maintain a fan width
of 20-30 cm (40-50º fan angle) and
move the gun at a constant speed. Re-
lease the trigger at the turning point of
each pass.
The result obtained from airless spray
application depends on the viscosity of
the paint. The main factors which affect
the viscosity is:
• Temperature of the paint
• Quantity of thinner added to the
paint.
Note: This code should not be used without reference to relevant Product Data Sheet and
Material Safety Data Sheet, copies of which are available from HEMPEL upon request.
Issued by HEMPEL’S MARINE PAINTS A/S · 97·05/008/30/HEMPEL In-house/KLS Digital
Code of Practice
It is preferable to reduce viscosity by
warming up the paint rather than by thin-
ning - as thinning will increase the risk
of the paint sagging (running).
The atomisation and the spray pattern
are determined by the pressure, the noz-
zle size and by the viscosity of the paint.
Advantages
Greater quantities of paint can be
applied with a more confined spray
pattern and less over-spray because
little paint fog is produced and there is
very little rebounce of paint.
Airless spray allows application of high
film thickness per coat and high viscosity
products.
Airless spray is much faster than air
spray. However, it will not provide the
same fine finish. As a rule of thumb, it
is possible to cover 700-1200 sqm per
working day of 8 hours, per individual
when using airless spray.
Limitations
Airless Spray application relies on atomi-
sation of the paint. "Dry spray" may re-
sult in a coarse paint finish. "Overspray"
is semi dried paint which attaches to
adjacent areas. Both may result in in-
sufficient film formation. Avoid by adjust-
ing the distance of nozzle to substrate
and paint under less windy conditions.
. system filters. The nozzle tip and tip filter screen should be cleaned with solvent
Code of Practice
HEMPEL Code of Practice
Airless Spray Application
Safety:
Airless spray equipment is working with paint under high pressure. If you aim at
yourself or others the high pressurised paint may penetrate the skin and cause
serious injury.
• Therefore never aim the spray gun at your self or others.
• When spraying avoid any kind of sparks. This must include sparks induced by
static electricity. Use conductive painthoses and grounded air- and hydraulic
hoses.
• Never smoke, eat or drink while painting.
• Stay clear of movable parts.
• Keep equipment in proper working condition, change work nozzles, and clean
filters of regular intervals.
• Never dismantle equipment, nozzle etc. unless you are sure that the pressure
has been relieved and safety devices are in function.
• Never leave spray equipment, nozzles etc. under pressure and without safety
devices in function.
• Observe local safety regulations and the safety instructions given by suppliers
of equipment and paint.
Airless spray equipment should only be operated by skilled operators.
Cleaning
To maintain an airless spray system you must ensure that all system components
are clean and check for and replace worn or damaged components that might fail
under pressure.
To clean the system, replace the coating material and flush with appropriate sol-
vent. After removing the nozzle tip, flush the system by spraying the solvent into a
container. When the solvent looks clean, the system has been purged of paint
material. Special attention needs to be given to cleaning of the nozzle tip and the
and rags and can be immersed in a bucket of solvent. It may be necessary to use
a small tool to scrape paint of the tip. The tool can be a small brush or wooden pick
but not a metal object or scraper, which can damage the tip.
Please also refer to manufacturer's instructions.
1 May 1997 Code of Practice 2
HEMPEL
HEMPEL's Protective & Decorative Paints
Code of Practice No. 96.14
Airless Spray Application
Summary of Airless Spray applica-
tion:
• High pressure spraying
• The fastest method among most
common application methods
Allows application of coats with high
film thickness and paint with high
viscosity
Areas of use
Airless spray is ideal for application to
large areas.
Principle
The principle of airless spray is that the
atomisation of the paint takes place due
to the sudden release of high pressure,
when paint is forced through a small
nozzle. There is no air involved in the
atomisation.
How to use Airless Spray
The idea behind airless spray applica-
tion is to obtain a uniform paint film
without voids or holidays, and to secure
the best possible adhesion to substrate.
When spraying, the gun should be held
at right angles and at a distance of ap-
proximately 30 cm (1 foot) to the
substrate. Try to maintain a fan width
of 20-30 cm (40-50º fan angle) and
move the gun at a constant speed. Re-
lease the trigger at the turning point of
each pass.
The result obtained from airless spray
application depends on the viscosity of
the paint. The main factors which affect
the viscosity is:
• Temperature of the paint
• Quantity of thinner added to the
paint.
Note: This code should not be used without reference to relevant Product Data Sheet and
Material Safety Data Sheet, copies of which are available from HEMPEL upon request.
Issued by HEMPEL’S MARINE PAINTS A/S · 97·05/008/30/HEMPEL In-house/KLS Digital
Code of Practice
It is preferable to reduce viscosity by
warming up the paint rather than by thin-
ning - as thinning will increase the risk
of the paint sagging (running).
The atomisation and the spray pattern
are determined by the pressure, the noz-
zle size and by the viscosity of the paint.
Advantages
Greater quantities of paint can be
applied with a more confined spray
pattern and less over-spray because
little paint fog is produced and there is
very little rebounce of paint.
Airless spray allows application of high
film thickness per coat and high viscosity
products.
Airless spray is much faster than air
spray. However, it will not provide the
same fine finish. As a rule of thumb, it
is possible to cover 700-1200 sqm per
working day of 8 hours, per individual
when using airless spray.
Limitations
Airless Spray application relies on atomi-
sation of the paint. "Dry spray" may re-
sult in a coarse paint finish. "Overspray"
is semi dried paint which attaches to
adjacent areas. Both may result in in-
sufficient film formation. Avoid by adjust-
ing the distance of nozzle to substrate
and paint under less windy conditions.
. system filters. The nozzle tip and tip filter screen should be cleaned with solvent
Code of Practice
HEMPEL Code of Practice
Airless Spray Application
Safety:
Airless spray equipment is working with paint under high pressure. If you aim at
yourself or others the high pressurised paint may penetrate the skin and cause
serious injury.
• Therefore never aim the spray gun at your self or others.
• When spraying avoid any kind of sparks. This must include sparks induced by
static electricity. Use conductive painthoses and grounded air- and hydraulic
hoses.
• Never smoke, eat or drink while painting.
• Stay clear of movable parts.
• Keep equipment in proper working condition, change work nozzles, and clean
filters of regular intervals.
• Never dismantle equipment, nozzle etc. unless you are sure that the pressure
has been relieved and safety devices are in function.
• Never leave spray equipment, nozzles etc. under pressure and without safety
devices in function.
• Observe local safety regulations and the safety instructions given by suppliers
of equipment and paint.
Airless spray equipment should only be operated by skilled operators.
Cleaning
To maintain an airless spray system you must ensure that all system components
are clean and check for and replace worn or damaged components that might fail
under pressure.
To clean the system, replace the coating material and flush with appropriate sol-
vent. After removing the nozzle tip, flush the system by spraying the solvent into a
container. When the solvent looks clean, the system has been purged of paint
material. Special attention needs to be given to cleaning of the nozzle tip and the
and rags and can be immersed in a bucket of solvent. It may be necessary to use
a small tool to scrape paint of the tip. The tool can be a small brush or wooden pick
but not a metal object or scraper, which can damage the tip.
Please also refer to manufacturer's instructions.
1 May 1997 Code of Practice 2