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What is paint?
 Paint is a
liquid which dries to form a surface that protects and
beautifies. Paint consists mainly of:
Pigments, which provide opacity and color and can affect
the degree of gloss.
Binders, which keep the powdery pigment together.
Solvents (and thinners and dispersing agents), which
evaporate after application to leave behind the film of
bound pigment.
There are many other ingredients. For example, paints
include thickening and anti-settling agents, and some
paints may include fungicides.
Paints and related coatings can be differentiated in many
ways:
Interior and exterior
Alkyd (oil) and latex
Degree of gloss
Quality
Size of container
Colour
Primer, undercoat and topcoat
Paints and stains
Specialty coatings
Product lines
Product numbers
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.
What size containers of paint are available?
The most common sizes are:
0.945 litres
3.78 litres
18.9 litres
Note: When customers ask for "a gallon", they are
referring to the 3.78 litre container, which contains a
little less than an imperial gallon. |
