
Paint is a material that is applied as a liquid and dries to form a film-like layer on a surface. It is made up of four main components: resin, additives, solvent, and pigments. The pigments give the paint its colour, while the solvent acts as a vehicle to carry and dissolve the other ingredients. Resin is used to hold the pigments together and help the paint dry, and additives are included to improve the paint's physical properties. Paint is typically oil-based or water-based, with each type having distinct characteristics and requiring different clean-up solvents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Paint is a material or mixture that, when applied to a solid material and allowed to dry, adds a film-like layer. |
| Uses | Paint is used to create an image or images known as a painting. It is also used to protect the surface to which it is applied and for decoration. |
| Types | Most paints are either oil-based or water-based. Other types include UV curing paints, powder coatings, plastisols/organosols, lacquers, and fingerpaints. |
| Ingredients | Paint typically consists of resin, additives, solvent, and pigments. |
| Pigments | Pigments give paint its colour. Titanium dioxide is the basic white pigment, while other pigments include iron oxide, cadmium sulfide, metallic salts, iron blue, and chrome yellow. |
| Solvents | Solvents are the liquid body of the paint that carries and dissolves the other ingredients. Water is the most common solvent, while mineral turpentine is often used for oil-based paints. |
| Resins | Resins bind the pigments together and help the paint dry. Natural resins include linseed, coconut, and soybean oil, while synthetic resins include alkyds, acrylics, epoxies, and polyurethanes. |
| Additives | Additives are used to improve the physical properties of paint, such as smoothing out brush strokes, inhibiting mould growth, promoting faster drying, or resisting sag. |
| Manufacturing Process | Paint is typically manufactured in batches ranging from 200 litres to 10,000 litres. The ingredients are measured by weight or volume and mixed together. The product is then tested and canned for distribution. |
| Testing | Testing is done to evaluate properties such as dispersion, viscosity, density, hiding, tint strength, colour, application, dry time, gloss, and dry film appearance. |
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What You'll Learn

Paint is a liquid that dries to a solid film
Paint is typically applied as a liquid and dries to a solid film. It is made up of four main components: resin, additives, solvent, and pigments. Each ingredient has a unique purpose and function. The resin holds the pigments together and helps the paint dry. The solvent is the liquid body of the paint, carrying and dissolving the other ingredients. It determines the paint's drying time. Water is the most common solvent, used for latex paints, while mineral turpentine is used for oil-based paints.
Pigments give paint its colour. Titanium dioxide is the most widely used white pigment, while other colours are derived from iron oxide and metallic salts. These pigments come in powdered form and are finely ground particles. There are two groups of pigments: prime pigments, such as titanium dioxide, chrome green oxide, and red iron oxides; and extender pigments, such as calcite, talc, and mica, which add bulk and weight to the paint.
Additives are included to improve the paint's physical properties, such as smoothing brush strokes, inhibiting mould growth, and promoting faster drying. Co-solvents are added to assist the binders in forming a film, especially in cold temperatures. Binders are the film-forming component, providing a binding effect to hold the pigments together and create a dry film on the surface.
The manufacturing process involves accurately measuring and combining these ingredients, with testing conducted throughout to ensure product quality. Paint is typically stored, sold, and applied as a liquid, with most types drying into a solid film. This drying process involves solvent evaporation, resulting in a durable finish.
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Paint is made of resin, solvent, additives and pigments
Paint is a material that is applied as a liquid and dries to form a film-like layer. It is made up of several components, including resin, solvent, additives, and pigments, each serving a specific purpose in the paint's performance and application.
Resin, also known as the binder, is a crucial component in paint formulation. It acts as a matrix or vehicle, holding the pigment particles in place and binding them together. The most common solvent-based resins are 'alkyd resins', typically used in enamel paints and clear varnishes. Urethane alkyds are another type of resin used in varnishes. Other protective coating resins include Epoxy, Urethane, Polysiloxane, and Moisture-Cured Urethane. Waterborne paints often use acrylic emulsion polymers as binders, with common types based on monomers such as methyl methacrylate and butyl methacrylate.
Solvents are the liquid component of paint, acting as a carrier and dissolving other ingredients. Water is the most common solvent, often used in latex paints. Mineral turpentine is frequently used as a solvent in oil-based paints. Solvents play a critical role in determining the paint's drying time. When the solvent evaporates, it allows the formation of a solid paint film.
Additives are supplementary ingredients added to modify the properties of the paint. They can be used to enhance the application process, such as smoothing out brush strokes, or impart special characteristics to the paint, like inhibiting mould growth or promoting faster drying. Additives may also be introduced by the user after purchasing the paint.
Pigments provide colour and opacity to paint. They typically come in powdered form and are divided into two groups: Prime Pigments and Extender Pigments. Prime Pigments include Titanium Dioxide (white), Chrome Green Oxide, and Iron Oxides, while Extender Pigments include Calcite (Calcium Carbonate), Talc (Magnesium Silicate), and Mica. Pigments are broken down into individual particles and dispersed in the binder during the paint-making process.
The manufacturing process for paint involves carefully measuring and mixing these components in large, stirred containers. The specific proportions and combinations of these ingredients determine the unique characteristics and performance of the final paint product.
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Pigments give paint colour
Paint is a material that is applied as a liquid and dries by a variety of chemical processes to form a solid. Paint is made up of four main components: resin, additives, solvent, and pigments. Each component has a specific purpose.
Pigments give paint its colour. They usually come in powdered form. For example, white pigment is titanium dioxide, black pigment is carbon black, and oranges and yellows are derived from metallic salts.
The Colour Index International (CII) is an authoritative reference on colourants, recognised by manufacturers and consumers internationally. It was first published in 1925 and now encompasses more than 27,000 products under 13,000 generic colour index names. In the CII schema, each pigment has a generic index number that identifies it chemically, regardless of proprietary and historic names. For instance, Phthalocyanine Blue BN has been known by a variety of names since its discovery in the 1930s, but in the CII, all phthalocyanine blue pigments are designated by a generic colour index number as either PB15 or PB16, reflecting slight variations in molecular structure.
Pigments can be crystalline or non-crystalline (amorphous). In crystalline pigments, the atoms within each molecule are arranged in a well-structured pattern, whereas in amorphous pigments, the atoms are randomly arranged.
The use of inorganic pigments dates back to early cave paintings that are 30,000 years old. Although they occur naturally, for the manufacturing of paint, they usually require modification. All white pigments are inorganic, and a wide range of coloured pigments is also available. For example, the blue inorganic pigment range is dominated by Phthalocyanine, considered the ideal pigment to impart blue colour in paints and coatings. Other blue pigments include Indanthrone, Ultramarine, and Prussian Blue.
The discovery of mauveine, the first aniline dye in 1856, was a forerunner for the development of hundreds of synthetic dyes and pigments. These dyes ushered in the flourishing of organic chemistry, including systematic designs of colourants. The development of organic chemistry diminished the dependence on inorganic pigments.
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Water and oil are common paint bases
Water and oil are common bases used in paint. Water-based paints, also known as latex paints, consist of a pigment and binder with water used as a carrier. They are the most common and environmentally responsible paint option. Water-based paints offer excellent colour retention over time, dry faster than alternatives, and produce fewer odours. They can be used over existing oil-based paints, but not vice versa. Water-based paints are also more flexible and UV-resistant than oil-based paints, making them a good choice for exterior walls. They are less susceptible to cracking or becoming chalky and dry.
Oil-based paints, on the other hand, use natural oils like linseed oil or synthetic alkyd as the base and are usually a combination of resins, pigments, and a solvent thinner. Once the thinner evaporates, the resin forms a hard coating. Oil-based paints provide a durable and high-quality finish but have longer drying times and stronger odours. They are also more resistant to wear and tear but can become dry, brittle, and chalky over time, and the sheen becomes duller.
When choosing between water-based and oil-based paints, it is important to consider the specific project and surface being painted. For example, water-based paints are generally recommended for interior walls that experience a lot of moisture, such as kitchens and bathrooms, as well as for exterior walls due to their UV resistance and flexibility in varying weather conditions. Oil-based paints, however, may be preferred for projects requiring a durable and high-quality finish, such as trim or moulding.
Determining whether an existing paint is oil-based or water-based can be done by wiping the surface with denatured alcohol. If the rag picks up the paint, it is water-based; if no paint rubs off, it is likely oil-based.
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Paint is made in batches and tested
Paint is typically made in batches ranging from 200 litres for special products and colours to 10,000 litres for mainline white products. The manufacturing process involves five critical parts. Firstly, ingredients are measured by weight on scales, and sometimes by volume in calibrated vats and graduated measuring containers. For batches larger than 4000 litres, the vats are loaded onto load cells connected to accurate electronic scales.
The mill-base (pigment, solvent and additives) and let-down (resin, solvent and additives) are combined separately. The mill-base is then added to the let-down with stirring, and any final additions are made. The product quality is monitored throughout the manufacturing process by the Product Verification Laboratory. Critical ingredients are tested before manufacturing starts.
Once the paint is made, it is tested to ensure it has the correct viscosity and appearance. The finished paint is inspected for its density, fineness of grind, dispersion, and viscosity. It is then applied to a surface and studied for bleed resistance, rate of drying, and texture. Colour is checked by an experienced observer and by spectral analysis to see if it matches a desired colour. Resistance of the colour to fading caused by the elements is also tested.
During canning, two samples are taken: a retain sample, which is stored in case it is needed for future reference, and a Final Inspection sample. The Final Inspection sample is tested in the Resene Final Inspection Laboratory to guarantee conformance to relevant standards and specifications. After this final stage of testing is complete, the batch is passed for use in the warehouse and dispatch to branches as required.
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Frequently asked questions
Paint is a material or mixture that, when applied to a solid material and allowed to dry, adds a film-like layer. Paint is typically made up of four main components: resin, additives, solvent, and pigments.
There are two main types of paint: oil-based and water-based. Oil-based paints use mineral turpentine as the solvent, while water-based paints use water as the solvent. Lacquers are another simple type of paint that forms a film by evaporation of a solvent.
Paint is made by combining resin, solvent, and additives in a separate, larger vat, which is called the let-down. The mill-base, which consists of pigments, is then added to the let-down with stirring. Any final additions are made at this stage, and the completed batch is thoroughly tested to evaluate properties such as viscosity, density, colour, dry time, and gloss.

























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