t44

145

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of PAINTS AI{D YARITISHES
Paint is a suspension of some opaque solids (mainly pigment powder) in a liquid
medium such as oils. After application on metal surface the liquid of the mixture is
dried by oxidation and polymerization. The mixture can be used as a protective and also
mu as decorative coating for many surfaces.
frel
FIe Thus paint naay be defined as a liquid or semi-solid mixture of some organic and
inorganic substance which when applied on surfaces of engineering materials such as
metal, wood, plastics etc. produces a hard corrosive preventive, decorative coating on
drying by oxidation or polymerization.

Purpose
,

The main purpose of applying paints is to protect the underlying surface. By its
decorative effects it adds the aesthetic appeal and attractiveness to the painted surface-
Painting is an art. At the same time there is science involved in it. The art of paintiag
satisfies the aesthetic appeal, while for effective protection of the underlying surface,
the knowledge ofscience about painting is also very essential.

Constituents
he
Paints are usually made by mixing the following ingredients
It3
i. Pigments
ii. Vetricles (drying oil) :

iii. Thinner or diluents

iv. Extenders
v. Driers
vi. Plasticizers.
vii. Anti skinning agents

Pigments

The pigmeut is usually an inorgar-ic compound. It may also be an organic dye. It

imparts color to the coating- Sometimgs it works as anticorrosive agents.

Function of pigments

The function of pigments in paints can be summarized as

a) It reflects away the injurious ultra violet ray and in this way protects the oil film
and the underlying surface.
b) It reinforces the paint film mechanically.
c) it gives color effect.
d) It adds hiding power or opaqueness to the paint film.
e) Some pigments such as zinc chromate (ZnCrOa) possesses corrosion inhibitive
properties.
Requirements of a good pigment

A good pigment for paint shouid have the following properties. . ..

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i. Capacity of good covering power.

ii. Chimical inertness, non-toiicity, reasonable cost and mixing ability with oil.
iii. Corrosion inhibitive property.

Yarious piginents used for making paints are:

White: White lead, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide.

Red: Red 1ead, Iron oxide, cadmium reds etc.

BIue: Ultramarine, Cobalt blues, iron blues etc,

Green: Chromium oxide, chrome green, etc.

Yetlow: litharge, lead or Zrncchromate etc.

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Black: Carbon black, lamp black, furnace black etc.

Orange: Basic lead chromate, Cadmium orange etc.

Brown: Bumt umber, bumt seine etc.

Metallic's: Copper powder, Zinc dust etc.

' Metal protective pigments: Red lead, blue lead Zinc and basic lead etc

Vehicles

In the paint industry vehicie, used as the medium for the suspension of pigment powder,
is oil and is known as 'Drying oil' or 'Semidrying oil'.

The chief funritiOn of the oil is to hold pigment powder and other solid materials in
semisolid state and to forrn or to help the formation of a protective f,rlm on drying.
Linseed oil and dehydrated castor oil are two comrnonly used drying oils while soybean
oil and fish oil are two common examples of semidrying oil-

Thinner

To facilitate the application of paints, the concentrated paint mixture is diluted with
turpentine oil. In-this case turpentine oil, which is known as the thinner. For oil bound
paints white spirit is also used. The synthetic resin paints need a particular thinner,
which must be compatible with the type of resin medium.

Extenders

Extenders (also known as fillers) such as whiting, gypsum, talc, clay etc are added to
reduce the cost of paint and occasionally to increase the covering power of the paint
mixture.
 1,47

Driers

To expedite the absorption of oxygen by the drying oil some drios su.h as resonate$,
oleates, linoleates or napthenates of lead, manganese, cobolt and vanadium are added to
the paint in a very smalt quantity (not exceeding 1.0%). These driers act as catalyst in
the formation and hardening of the film by chemical reactions.

Plasticizers

Raw and blown castor oil, kicresyl phosphates, dibutyl phthalate etc are sometimes
added. to the paint mixture in order to decrease or preyent the cracking ofthe film and
also to attribute some elastic property to the film. These substances are known as
plasticizers in paint industry. They are used in appropriate amount.

Anti skinning agents

Sometimes it has been observed that the paint films peel out offfrom the metal surface.
To prevent such effect anti skinning agents are used. These are rnainly poly-hydroxy
phenols. Poly-hydroxy phenols prevent the peeling off of the paint film from the metal
surfaces. Peeling of the paint f,rlm is often observed in steel almirah, file cabinet etc.

VARNISHES
Definition
Varnish is a homogenous colloidal dispersion of natural or synthetic resin in
oil or spirit medium.
If the medium is oil it is known as oil varnishes.
If the medium is spirit it is known as spirit vamishes.

It is used as a protective and decorative coating to the wooden surfaces. It

r
provides a hard, transparent, glossy appearance and durable film to the coated
t'-
surface.
3.

There are two main types of varnishes

1. Oil Varnish
2. Spirit Varnish
l.Oil Yarnish
Preparation of oil Yarnish.
Oil varnishes are rnore difficult to manufacture. Resins that are used in
the preparation of oil varnishes are high molecular weight substances and are not
easily soluble in oil. The resin is taken in an aluminium vessel and heated over a
fue pit or in a small furnace. When resin melts , the temperature is slowly
increased to about 3000C. This process is known ur gom running. SomL
cracking or depolymerization of the resin takes place and about 25 per cent of
the resin is lost in the form of fumes.
The required quantity (about 25 per cent of the weight of the resin) of boiled oitr
or linseed oil, along with driers is separately heated to 200 to 22ouc and is siowly
added to the heated resin with constant stirring until thorough
combination has taken place. This operation is known as cooking. Over heating
must be avoided as it causes discoloration of the varnish.
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The kettle is removed from the furnace and allowed to cool. white soirit is then
added (which is a petroleum fraction, boiring between 1500c and zboOcl. ri i,
the most cofirmon thinner.
Tlte vanjsh is stored in ta*s for some days for maturing. Foreign matter and
padicles of resin, which have not dissolved, settle drxing thrs penod,. Dunng
maturing, the colour of the varnish also , improv"r u.rd it Lecomes more
homogenous. The vamish is filtered and packed for marketing.

2. SPIRIT VARNISHES
A Spirit varnish is a dispersion ofresin in spirit.
Preparation
The resin and spirit are placed in a cylindrical drum. plasticizer and other
components are added. The resin is dissolved by agitating the mixture or by
rotating the drum. It is then filtered and used. The frnal product is called spirit
varnish.
Difference between paint and varnish

sl. Paint Varnish

it{o

1. Paint has pigment. There is no pigment in the

Varnish.
2. It can be applied to both It can be applied only to
the wooden articles.
metals & wooden articles

a
J. It is Opaque It is transparent

Special paints
In addition to the normal ingredients some special chemicals are in corporated to
paints for some specific purposes. They are iommonry known as special paints.

1. Luminous paints
Luminous paints are visible in the dark. since it contain luminophor pigments
Qike cdS, ZnS) that are used for visibility in the dark .They ausoru ugrrt
radiations and emit them in the dark. The active components in iuminous palnt
are specially prepared phosphorescent materials like cdS, ZnS, etc. For colour
effect in luminous paints, certain chemicals like copper salts (green), silver salts
(blue), cerium and uranium salts (yellow), etc. are added
Uses:
They find application in inks, advertising signboard,s, road marks, road traffic
signs, number plates of vehicles, watch diils, map, chart, etc.
F-
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re1ard the fire are ealted as fire_retordant
,_,_,,ffirhieh
paint
'''Ttis contaiis thechemicas ryc, c1*gn"r***;r,; r"r*rro*ra"
ffi gnt;g:fiff ,I_:I,,.l il"^ n i:#;;;;;ffi
higher temperar;res trearrdown - rJ gir""'ffi *r'ilffi'rl*?f,J.,ffi""i#
#.,:: '
substances at

:"*il*#:{#,,#t"T::tiffi -,il;J;#;ffii:'H[Hnotsupporr
Uses:

Mainly used in defence, industrial, commerciar,

complexes ----' vv4.* education and residentiar

The most frequent soqc: of a

fire in any hoter, restailrant or residence. The
walls, doors and even kitchen
"ila"* J;'.d; be protected against the spread
of

False cEiling, Lift,"r;;:l;;;;

Equipment Rooms, Aircraft safe yaults, Iockere,
go*puter. Go", phnts chemicat _deposit
Plants, Storage Tank,
struchtres in Sugar Mills, Texrile
lwifr-_;; FI*]fr;^
3, Aluminium paint

The base materiar in aluminiumpaint

is a finepowder.of aruminium.
The ground
fine powder of aruminium ir il;;d"dl"ri*n spirir varnish or an oil-vamish
depending on the r*r1r_"*"11
and oil, if any, urdogo"s oxidation
tilh;;-pr#'* ,ppri"a, ,n. A;#,
evaporares
,r'a poiv A bright adhering fiLn
of aluminium is obtaiied
",
A;;ri"fi-J;;..".ization.
Uses:
wooden and metalric articre for interior
and exterior decoration.
Advantages of aluminium paint:
1. It possesses a good covering power.
i. lt pp"rtr very attractive uppearanc" to the
surface.
1. I lrr fairly good Ueat_resistance.
1 lh*
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very good electrical resistance
Ihe painted fikn is waterproof,
6. The electrical surface i, even darkness.
7' c^orrosion protection for"irruf"
iron ;tr*l
pamts;
,#*e is better than arl other

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 4.Diftemperr, I ',:' ''rr'r' i:'-: '.:'-"-' r:ri-::r1'-:'::':
Dist€xrxp; are water paints. They contain chelk powdsr, glue and pigment
irilriili
r" *r*r.ifli "* roy and can be easily applied on wa[s. Thev
' *I r*tLfuisilirJrr& *tl"["rp
t"i*u.,l}e tqryqTF {btery are.,,"
r ".1','
: l-lWliting'aientorc\alkpgwder(edEse-)' --' l':::-',, ,i-"r ... -...' '..,-,
2. Glue oicasein (the binder)
3. ColouringPigment and

t. pi*ttefe*s ale cheaper than paiirts and vTql$htt , '

,.Z.TheysaaUappU*e easityonplaste.n,andwallsrqfo,-qq intheintenorof .,,' '

the buililings

4- Theygive,sruo and.ppqqiugfiui*htowalh: r. ,' =: ,,1