Paint and Resin Technology
Industrial and architectural coatings
Successful production and sale of industrial and architectural coatings depends on knowing the raw materials, the manufacturing process, application methods, and related side properties. A formulator should understand the following pigment properties:
- Refractive index
- Particle size
- Particle shape
- Oil absorption
- Gloss
- Hiding power
- Wetting and dispersing ease
- Shade
- Tinting strength
- Specific gravity
- Apparent density
- Physical and chemical activity toward binders
- Bleeding
- Flooding and floating
- Lightfastness
- Anti-corrosive performance
- Supply sources
- Price
Key materials in industrial and architectural coatings:
- Binders / resins
- Pigments
- Solvents
- Driers
- Catalysts
- Additives
- Pigment-to-binder ratio (P/B)
Manufacturing process knowledge:
- Mixers and mills such as pearl mill and dyno mill
- Viscosity control
- Tinting
- In-process testing
- Filtration
- Packaging and storage
- Department coding systems
Final approval tests before sale or delivery:
- Pigment grind
- Viscosity
- Specific gravity
- Shade
- Coverage
- Flow
- Application methods: brush, spray, roller, electrostatic
- Temperature, catalyst, or other film-forming conditions
- Drying time
- Hardness
- Adhesion
- Flexibility
- Impact resistance
- Blistering
- Light and heat stability
- Water and humidity resistance
- Chemical resistance
- Abrasion and scrub resistance
- Settling rate
- Yellowing
- Long-term durability
Application method knowledge:
- Brush, spray, dip, roller, fusion, electrostatic, electrocoating
- Thinner suitable for each method
- Film formation: oven-cured, air-dry, catalyzed, or solvent evaporation
- Substrate to be coated
- Need for putty, primer, or neither
