When we think about painting our homes, the first thing that comes to mind is the vast array of colors that are readily available—the possibilities are virtually endless, and if you can imagine a certain shade or hue, it very likely exists! That said, what most of us overlook when it comes to painting is the intricate and precise process that goes into the creation of these colors. Keep reading to learn a little more about the ingredients that are used to manufacture paint, along with a brief overview of the main steps of the process.
The Key Ingredients Used to Manufacture Paint
Commercial paint is created with high-quality ingredients that are precisely measured to ensure that the finished product meets all standards, looks great, and lasts for as long as possible. It also must be capable of being easily applied as a liquid before drying and turning solid. But in order to achieve this, a variety of different components are utilized. Here’s a closer look at the four key ingredients used:
- Pigments – These are used to provide color, hiding, and control the level of gloss. A few common examples include zinc oxide (white), iron oxide (red), and chromium oxide (green).
- Resins – Resins hold the pigment particles together and provide adhesion to the surface, in addition to some protection.
- Solvents – These act as carriers for pigments and resins, and can be something organic like turpentine or even water-based.
- Additives – These smaller additions are used to enhance specific properties within the paint, including ease of brushing, scuff resistance, mold resistance, and drying resistance.
The Paint-Making Process
Here’s a breakdown of the five main steps that constitute the paint-making process:
- Measurement of ingredients – Using highly accurate scales, all of the ingredients are measured (by weight or volume) and distributed into calibrated vats and containers.
- Preparation of mill-base – Since pigments naturally tend to clump together, dispersion is necessary to separate the particles for the mill-base. This is done by mixing in resin and certain additives.
- Combining the mill-base and let-down – The remaining ingredients are combined into the “let-down” and stirred before being added to the mill-base.
- Testing the quality – After any last-minute additions have been made, the quality is tested. Properties that are being evaluated include density, viscosity, tint strength, color, dry time, application, and the degree of dispersion.
- Canning the paint – Once the mixture has been tested, a sample is stored for future reference before the paint is finally canned and distributed.
We use paint for several reasons: decoration, protection, identification, and even sanitation. By knowing a little about the ingredients and how they’re combined, it’s much easier to appreciate the capabilities of paint and ensure that no matter what the project at hand is, the final results exceed your expectations!
About Platinum Painting of Fort Worth
Our talented team at Platinum Painting of Fort Worth is ready to assist homeowners and project managers across Fort Worth and the rest of the metroplex with all kinds of painting projects! If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to contact us to set up a consultation, feel free to give us a call today! Telephone: (817) 885-5656.