Paint Curing – Everything you need to know

Everything you need to know about paint curing

For high quality finishes and reliable results, it’s essential that you know exactly how paint should be cured.  

What’s the difference between paint drying and curing?

You might’ve seen the terms ‘curing’ and ‘drying’ used interchangeably when it comes to paints and coatings, but they don’t actually refer to the same thing.  

Paint drying  

Once paint has been applied to a surface, it begins to dry. How long paints take to dry depends on factors such as the paint’s composition and the environment it’s been applied in. There are ways you speed up this process or measure its effectiveness, using drying testers.  

Drying is the first process that takes place, and it happens when the water or solvents in the paint evaporate. This creates a dry outer layer and paint may look dry or finished to the naked eye. However, just because a paint is dry doesn’t mean that it is durable or resistant to touch.  

Paint curing 

The next stage is the curing stage. Paint curing is the secondary process where the water and solvents in the paint mix continue to evaporate, while other chemical reactions cause the paint to bond with the surface it’s been applied to.  

This bonding is what ensures that paint will adhere to a surface, reducing the chances of peeling, chipping or scratches. Paint curing can be considered the stage that allows the paint to achieve maximum hardness.  

The curing stage typically takes much longer than the drying stage. While paint may appear to dry in a few hours, curing can take days or weeks to complete. There are ways to speed up the curing process.  

How to cure paints efficiently

How long paint takes to cure can be affected by a number of environmental conditions. You can also speed up the process by using the right tools and equipment. 

Apply paint in a low humidity environment 

When it’s humid and there is moisture in the air, it can take longer for paints to dry and then cure. Using a dehumidifier can help combat this issue and result in a shorter and more efficient curing time.  

Use a convection oven to enhance curing 

In a convection oven, hot air is circulated, which creates a good environment to aid the evaporation of water and solvents from paint. This can speed up the curing process and help paint reach its peak hardness more quickly. We have a wide range of options available for enhancing your curing times, such as the TQC Sheen CurveX 4 Oven Logger Kit. 

Infrared paint curing techniques 

Paint can also be cured using infrared technology. This harnesses a type of radiation energy and can reach very high temperatures, making it quick and easy to cure paints. Products like our TQC Sheen Laboratory Ovens are able to create demanding temperature profiles with ease.  

Paint testing with Industrial Physics

Whether you need to decrease your car paint drying time or you want a reliable way to assess the curing capabilities of your paint, we’re here to help. Our wide range of expertise and specialist brands ensure we’ve got the test and measurement solutions to take care of all of your paint testing.