Abrasion Resistance
Resistance to being worn away by rubbing or by friction; related more to toughness than to hardness. A necessary quality for floor finishes, enamels, and varnishes
Abrasive
A course material used in blast cleaning such as sand, steel shot, glass beads or plastics
Absorption
Process of soaking up or assimilation of one substance by another
Accelerator
Material that speeds up the curing. Catalyst
Accelerated Weathering
A test designed to simulate the effect of natural outdoor weathering - sunlight, rain, temperature variation etc. NO direct equivalence to actual resistance to exterior exposure can be made; results are best used to compare performance in the test between different coatings
Acrylic
A type of resin used in solvent-borne and waterborne industrial and decorative coatings and inks. Often reacted with other resin types to achieve the right properties
Acrylic Latex
Water-based synthetic resin used in a latex coating with good gloss and colour retention.
Acrylic Resin
A clear resin normally cured with an Isocyanate (air dry) or melamine (stoving). Colourless nature of resin allows wide colour range to be obtained. Have excellent chemical resistance and exterior durability
Activator
The curing agent used with a two pack product
Additives
Used in very small amounts to modify the paint
Adhesion
The ability of a coating to stick to a surface
Aerosol
Dispersing of a liquid into a gas, for spraying, often used for touch-up paints
Air Cap
Cap covering the nozzle on a conventional spray or HVLP spray gun. Directs the flow of air, and thus shape of spray pattern
Air Dry
The ability of a paint or coating to dry under normal conditions of temperature and humidity. Normally drying occurs by oxidation (alkyds) or solvent evaporation (cellulose)
Air Entrapment
The inclusion of small air bubbles in the liquid paint film following application. Can occur with airless application of coatings, solved by correct choice of tip, application pressure or thinner
Airless Spray
A spray that increases the fluid pressure of paint by means of a pump that causes atomisation with air, resulting in higher film build and little or no over-spray
Alkali
A substance such as caustic soda, or lime that can be highly destructive to paint films. In technical terms any chemical with a pH of between 7 and 14
Alkyd
Synthetic resin modified with oil for good adhesion to a clean surface, and good gloss, colour retention, and flexibility
Alligatoring
Condition of paint film where surface is cracked and develops an appearance similar to alligator skin
Aluminium Paint
A paint that includes aluminium particles and gives a metallic finish when dried
Ambient Temperature
Room temperature or the temperature of the surroundings during application or drying of a coating
Amine
Material often used as a curing agent for epoxy coatings
Anchoring
Mechanical bonding of a coating to a rough surface as contrasted with adhesion which is chemical bonding
Anti-corrosive Paint
Metal paint designed to inhibit corrosion. Applied directly to metal
Anti Oxidant
An organic compound added to coatings to retard oxidation and deterioration
Antique Finish
A finish usually applied to furniture or woodwork to give the appearance of age.
Application
Process of applying a coating to a substrate
ASTM
American Society for Testing of Materials. Issues test methods in a similar way to BS, ISO and DIN
ASTM B117
Standard salt spray test. Basis of test is an atomised fog of 5% sodium chloride at 95 F sprayed over the test panels