How Is House Paint Made?
Paint is as much a decorative statement as it is a protective layer. Paint is available in a range of finishes, that possess different qualities, and, if the paint is to wear well, it is important to choose the correct type of paint for the surface to which it will be applied. The first paints were recorded 25,000 years ago, and through the centuries, paints were made with eggs and flour, and were colored with natural substances such as earth, charcoal and plant dyes. Today, technology has taken over. Does this Spark an idea?
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Materials
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Paint is made of varying proportions of four main ingredients, depending on the type of paint. Solvents make the paint easy to apply, resins help it dry, pigments add color, and additives may provide antifungicidal agents and insulating properties.
Pigments
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Most pigments used in the manufacturing of paint are dry colorants ground into fine powders. These have better durability and fade less than other types of pigment. Pigments must conform strictly to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) technical standards for the manufacture of pigments and dyes. Additionally, many paint manufacturers have voluntarily adopted the Colour Index International (CII) as a standard for identifying the pigments to use in manufacturing particular colors. Common pigments include white made from titanium dioxide, black made from carbon black, and red made from iron oxide.
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Process
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The four components are mixed together into a paste. It is then processed in a high speed dispersion tank, where the mixture is thoroughly blended. This process in paint manufacturing, which has been used since 1990s, has given customers the ability to choose from literally thousands of color shades, and even have colors custom matched, all for approximately $20 per gallon in 2010.
Canning
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The manufacturing and canning process is completely automated. Once the paint is mixed it is pumped to the canning area. Cans first have their labels applied, before having paint pumped into them. A machine then applies lids, and another tamps and seals them. Finally, a bailometer then cuts wire, shapes the handles and applies them.
Quality Control
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Stringent quality control tests are used to ensure consistency of products. Paints are inspected for qualities such as density and viscosity, and it is then applied to a surface to check drying rates, bleed resistance, fade resistance, texture and endurance. Spectral analysis is used to check that paint color complies with the ISO standards for that specific color.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit colour samples image by dwags from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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cool, but I beg to differ. house paint is house paint, you use it in your house..DUH.
