The impact of additives in paint and coatings

How additives improve and impact paints and coatings

Additives are a necessary component of making stable, durable and effective paints and coatings. Used to enhance everything from the paint’s overall appearance to its initial application, additives can make or break a sample. But what impact can they have on the performance of paints and coatings?

The role of additives in paints and coating

Additives have many roles to play when it comes to perfecting paints and coatings. They are low-level ingredients added to give paints a number of desirable properties, including good flow, levelling and even mildew resistance.

There are lots of paint and coating perks that are made possible due to the addition of the right additives at the right time. For example, quick drying paint or particularly durable coatings are made that way thanks to a carefully curated chemical composition. Likewise, achieving the desired gloss level is also achieved by including more or less of certain additives.

Additives can also improve the experience of applying paint. For example, some additives can break the bubbles which are formed in the paint when it’s being mixed for application while others can reduce drag. Additives can also act as stabilizers, which improve the paint’s storing properties as well as its production. They’re present in oil and water based paints alike.

What types of additives are added to paints?

The types of additives you can expect to see added to paint include deformers, wetting and dispersing agents, emulsifiers, thickeners, anti-setting agents as well as specialty additives and effluent treatment additives. There are also additives that can improve adhesion as well as ones that reduce the possibility for staining.

Additives to future proof paints and coatings

For many manufacturers, construction workers and civil engineers, the big question is how paints and coatings will withstand the kind of real-life pressures they might face. And it’s the additives that make the difference. Paint additives can:

• • Prevent corrosion, perfect for painting metals destined for humid or coastal application
• • Prevent the growth of sub aquatic organisms such as algae, ideal for aquatic applications
• • Prevent the growth of molds and funguses often found in places with mildew problems

When it comes to industrial painting, you may even need to create a specific formula for each and every job, creating a paint or coating that is perfectly matched to the demands that will be placed on it. To ensure that such a formula is fit for the task, robust paints and coatings testing is essential.

A thorough testing process can help you understand exactly how your paints and coatings will behave from the moment of application through to their performance out in the real world.

Paint and coatings testing with Industrial Physics

Whether you need to test the time it takes for paint to cure or you’re looking for hardness testing solutions, we’re here to help. Here at Industrial Physics, we have all the paint testing solutions you need.