ABATEMENT
Involves either removal of the painted surface, covering the painted surface with an impermeable surface, or covering surface with heavy-duty coating (encapsulant).

ABRASION RESISTANCE
Resistance to being worn away by rubbing or friction; related more to toughness than to hardness. A necessary quality for floor finishes, enamels and varnishes.

ABRASIVE
Used for wearing away a surface by rubbing. Examples are powdered pumice, rottenstone, sandpaper, sandpaper, steel wool.

ACRYLIC
A synthetic resin used in high-performance water-based coatings. A coating in which the binder contains acrylic resins.

ADHESION
The ability of a coating to stick to a surface.

ADHESION
The ability of dry paint to attach to and remain fixed on the surface without blistering, flaking, cracking or being removed by tape.

AEROSOL
A product feature that uses compressed gas to spray the product from its container.

AIRLESS SPRAY
A spray that increases the fluid pressure of paint by means of a pump that causes atomization with air, resulting in higher film build and little or no over-spray.

ALKALI
A substance such as lye, soda or lime that can be highly destructive to paint films.

ALKYD
Synthetic resin modified with oil for good adhesion to a clean surface and good gloss, color retention and flexibility. Slow drying.

ALLIGATORING
Condition of paint film where surface is cracked and develops an appearance similar to alligator skin.

ALUMINUM PAINT
A paint that includes aluminum particles and gives a metallic finish when dried.

AMIDE
A functional group which can act as an epoxy resin curing agent.

ANCHORING
Mechanical bonding of a coating to a rough surface as contrasted with adhesion, which is chemical bonding.

ANTI-CORROSIVE PAINT
Metal paint designed to inhibit corrosion. Applied directly to metal.

ANTI-FOULING PAINT
Paints formulated especially for boat decks and hulls, docks and other below-water-line surfaces and structures to prevent the growth of barnacles and other organisms on ships' bottoms.

ANTIQUE FINISH
A finish usually applied to furniture or woodwork to give the appearance of age.

AIR CURE
One method by which liquid coatings cure to a dry film. Oxygen from the air enters the film and cross-links the resin molecules. Also called "Air Dry" and "Oxidizing."

 

 

 

BACK PRIMED
When a coat of paint is applied to the back of woodwork and exterior siding to prevent moisture from entering the wood and causing the grain to swell.

BENZENE
Powerful but highly toxic and flammable solvent, usually restricted to spray application.

BINDER
Solid ingredients in a coating that hold the pigment particles in suspension and attach them to the substrate. Consists of resins (e.g., oils, alkyd, latex). The nature and amount of binder determine many of the paint's performance properties--washability, toughness, adhesion, color retention, etc.

BLEACHING
The process of restoring discolored or stained wood to its normal color or making it lighter.

BLEEDING
Undercoat staining through the topcoat.

BLISTERING
Formation of dome-shaped projections in paints or varnish films resulting from local loss of adhesion and lifting of the film from the underlying surface.

BLUSHING
A gloss film turning flat or a clear lacquer turning white, usually caused by moisture condensation during the drying process.

BODY
The thickness or thinness of a liquid paint.

BOILED OIL
Linseed (sometimes soya) oil that was formerly heated for faster drying. Today, chemical agents are added to speed up the drying process.

BOXING
Mixing paint by pouring from one container to another several times to ensure thorough mixing.

BREATHE
The ability of a paint film to permit the passage of moisture vapor without causing blistering, cracking, or peeling.

BRIDGING
Ability of paint to span small gaps or cracks through its cohesion and elastic qualities.

BRISTLE
The working part of a brush containing natural bristles (usually hog hair) or artificial bristles (nylon or polyester).

BRUSH MARKS
Marks of brush that remain in the dried paint film.

BRUSH-OUT
A technique sometimes used to influence a large sale that consists of brushing out a sample of paint onto a slab of wood or other material so the customer can see how the finished job will look.

BRUSHABILITY
The ability or ease with which paint can be brushed.

BUBBLES
Air bubbles in a drying paint film caused by excessive brushing during application or by over vigorous mixing that results in air trapment.

BUILD
Thickness or depth of a paint film.

BURNING IN
Repairing a finish by melting stick shellac into the damaged places by using a heated knife blade or iron.

BURNISHING
Shiny or lustrous spots on a paint surface caused by rubbing.

BUTADIENE
A gas which is chemically combined with styrene to create a resin used in latex binders, styrene-butadiene.

 

 

CALCIMINE
A water-thinned paint composed essentially of calcium carbonate or clay glue.

CAMEL HAIR
Trade name for tail hair from various types of Russian squirrels. Used for signwriter, lacquering brushings and lettering quills.

CATALYST
Substance whose presence increases the rate of a chemical reaction, e.g., acid catalyst added to an epoxy resin system to accelerate drying time.

CAULKING COMPOUND
A semidrying or slow drying plastic material used to seal joints or fill crevices around windows, chimneys.

CHALKING
Formation of a powder on the surface of a paint film caused by disintegration of the binder during weathering. Can be affected by the choice of pigment or binder.

CHECKING
A kind of paint failure in which many small cracks appear in the surface of the paint.

CHROMA
A measurement of color. The degree of saturation of a hue. A color at its full intensity has maximum chroma.

CLEAR COATING
A transparent protective and/or decorative film; generally the final coat of sealer applied to automotive finishes.

COALESCENT AID
The small amount of solvent contained in latex coatings. Not a true solvent since it does not actually dissolve the latex resins, the coalescent aid helps the latex resins flow together, aiding in film formation.

COATING
A paint, varnish, lacquer or other finish used to create a protective and/or decorative layer. Generally used to refer to paints and coatings applied in an industrial setting as part of the original equipment manufacturer's (OEM) process.

COHESION
Attraction of molecules within a coating (how it holds together).

COLOR RETENTION
The ability of paint to keep its original color. Major threats to color retention are exposure to ultraviolet radiation and abrasion by weather or repeated cleaning.

COLOR UNIFORMITY
Ability of a coating to maintain a uniform or consistent color across its entire surface, particularly during the weathering process.

COLORANT
Concentrated color (dyes or pigments) that can be added to paints to make specific colors.

COLORFAST
Non-fading in prolonged exposure to light.

CONTACT CEMENT
Completely non-staining cement. Ideal for applying wall paneling and for covering counters, cabinets and table tops with both porous and non-porous surfacing materials ranging from linoleum to plastic laminates.

COPPER STAINING
Usually caused by corrosion of copper screens, gutters or downspouts washing down on painted surfaces. Can be prevented by painting or varnishing the copper.

CORROSION INHIBITIVE
A type of metal paint or primer that prevents rust by preventing moisture from reaching the metal. Zinc phosphate, barium metaborate and strontium chromate (all pigments) are common ingredients in corrosion-inhibitive coatings. These pigments absorb any moisture that enters the paint film.

COVERAGE
The area over which a given amount of paint will spread and hide the previous surface. (Usually expressed in square feet per gallon).

CRACKING
The type of paint failure characterized by breaks in irregular lines wide enough to expose the underlying surface.

CRAWLING
Varnish defect in which poor adhesion of varnish to surface in some spots causes it to gather up in globs.

CRAZING
Small, interlacing cracks on surface of finish.

CREOSOTE
A liquid coating made from coal tar once used as a wood preservative. It has been banned for consumer use because of potential health risks.

CURE, CURING
The process whereby a liquid coating becomes a hard film.

CUSTOM COLOR
Special colors made by adding colorant to paint or by intermixing colors, which permits the retailer to match a color selected by the consumer.

CUTTING IN
Careful painting of an edge such as wall color at the ceiling line or at the edge of woodwork.

 

 

DEAD FLAT
No gloss or sheen.

DILUENT
A liquid used in coatings to reduce the consistency and make a coating flow more easily. The water in latex coatings is a diluent. A diluent may also be called a "Reducer," "Thinner," "Reducing Agent" or "Reducing Solvent."

DISTRESSING
Treatment of furniture, usually in the process of being antiqued, in order to make it appear older than it is. Consists of marring the surface or applying specks of glaze before varnishing.

DRIER
A paint ingredient that aids the drying or hardening of the film.

DRY COLORS
Powder-type colors to be mixed with water, alcohol or mineral spirits and resin to form a paint or stain.

DRY DUST FREE
That stage of drying when particles of dust that settle upon the surface do not stick to the paint film.

DRY TACK FREE
That stage of drying when the paint no longer feels sticky or tacky when lightly touched.

DRY TO HANDLE
That stage of drying when a paint film has hardened sufficiently so the object or surface painted may be used without marring.

DRY TO RECOAT
That stage of drying when the next coat can be applied.

DRY TO SAND
That stage of drying when a paint film can be sanded without the sandpaper sticking or clogging.

DRYING OIL
An oil that when exposed to air will dry to a solid through chemical reaction with air
linseed oil, tung oil, perilla, fish oil, soybean oil.

DURABILITY
The ability of paint to last or hold up well against the destructive agents such as weather, sunlight, detergents, air pollution, abrasion or marring.

DYE, DYESTUFF
A colored material used just to dye or change color with little or no hiding of the underlying surface.

 

 

EARTH PIGMENTS
Those pigments that are obtained from the earth, including barytes, ocher, chalk and graphite.

EFFLORESCENCE
A deposit of salts that remain on the surface of masonry, brick or plaster when water has evaporated.

EGGSHELL FINISH
The degree of gloss between a flat and gloss finish.

EMULSION PAINT
Coating in which resins are suspended in water, then flow together with the aid of an emulsifier. Example
latex paint.

EMULSION
A mixture of solids suspended in a liquid.

ENAMEL
Broad classification of paints that dry to a hard, usually glossy finish. Most equipment-coating enamels require baking. Enamels for walls do not.

EPOXY
Extremely tough and durable synthetic resin used in some coatings. Epoxy coatings are extremely tough, durable and highly resistant to chemicals, abrasion, moisture and alcohol.

EROSION
The wearing away of a paint film caused by exposure to the weather.

ETCH
Surface preparation by chemical means to improve the adhesion of coating.

EXTENDER
Ingredients added to paint to increase coverage, reduce cost, achieve durability, alter appearance, control rheology and influence other desirable properties. Less expensive than prime hiding pigments such as titanium dioxide. Examples
barium sulphate, calcium carbonate, clay, gypsum, silica, talc. May also improve coating performance.

EXTERIOR
The outside surfaces of a structure.

 

 

FADING
The loss of color due to exposure to light, heat or weathering.

FEATHER SANDING
Tapering the edge of dried paint film with sandpaper.

FERRULE
The metal band that connects the handle and stock of a paintbrush.

FILLER STRIPS
Strips made from specially treated wood, metal. Fiber or plastic in the center of a paintbrush, creating a reservoir of paint, thereby greatly increasing the paint carrying capacity.

FILLER
A product used to fill the pores of wood before applying a prime of finish coat.

FILM BUILD
Amount of thickness produced in an application. Millimeters (mils) of dry film per mils of applied wet film.

FILM THICKNESS
Depth or thickness of the dry coating in millimeters.

FILM
Layer or coat of paint or other finish.

FINISH COAT
Last coat of paint or other finish.

FIRE RESISTANCE
The ability of a coating to withstand fire or to protect the substrate to which it is applied from fire damage.

FIRE RETARDANT
A coating which will (1) reduce flame spread, (2) resist ignition when exposed to high temperature or (3) insulate the substrate and delay damage to the substrate.

FLAKING
A form of paint failure characterized by the detachment of small pieces of the film from the surface of previous coat of paint. Cracking or blistering usually precedes it.

FLASH POINT
The temperature at which a coating or solvent will ignite.

FLAT APPLICATOR
A rectangular shaped flat pad with an attached handle that is used to paint shingles, shakes and other special surfaces and areas.

FLAT
A surface that scatters or absorbs the light falling on it so as to be substantially free from gloss or sheen (0-15 gloss on a 60-degree gloss meter).

FLEXIBILITY
Ability of a coating to expand and contract during temperature changes.

FLOATING
Separation of pigment colors on the surface of applied paint.

FLOW
The ability of a coating to level out and spread into a smooth film, paints that have a good flow usually level out uniformly and exhibit few brush or roller marks.

FORCED DRY
Baking the paint between room temperature and 150ø F to speed the drying process.

FUNGICIDE
An agent the helps prevent mold or mildew growth on paint.

 

 

GALVANIZED
A thin coating of zinc that covers iron or steel to prevent rust.

GLAZE
A term used to describe several types of finishing materials. (1) Glazing putty is of a creamy consistency and is applied to fill imperfections in the surface. (2) A glazing stain is a pigmented stain applied over a stained, filled or painted surface to soften or blend the original color without obscuring it. (3) A glaze coat is a clear finish applied over previously coated surfaces to create a gloss finish.

GLOSS METER
A standard scale for measuring the shininess or light reflectance of paint. Different brands with the same description such as semi-gloss or flat may have quite different ratings on the gloss meter.

GLOSS
The luster or shininess of paints and coatings. Different types of gloss are frequently arbitrarily differentiated, such as sheen, distinctness-of-image gloss, etc. Trade practice recognizes the following gloss levels, in increasing order of gloss
flat (or matte)-- practically free from sheen, even when viewed from oblique angles (usually less than 15 on 60-degree meter); eggshell-- usually 20-35 on 60-degree meter; semi-gloss--usually 35-70 on 60-degree meter; full-gloss--smooth and almost mirror-like surface when viewed from all angles, usually above 70 on 60-degree meter.

GRAIN RAISING
Swelling and standing up of the wood grain caused by absorbed water and solvents.

GRAINING
Simulating the grain of wood by means of specially prepared colors or stains and the use of graining tools or special brushing techniques.

GROUND COAT
The base coat in an antiquing system that is applied before the graining colors, glazing or other finish coat.

 

 

HARDBOARD
Reconstituted natural wood, fabricated by reducing natural wood to fibers and then pressing the fibers together into panels of various thickness'.

HARDENER
Curing agent for epoxies or fiberglass.

HARDNESS
The ability of a paint film to resist denting, scratching or marring.

HEPA VACUUM
High-efficiency particulate air-filtered vacuum designed to remove lead- contaminated dust.

HIDING POWER
The ability of a paint to hide the previous surface or color.

HOLDOUT
The ability of a paint film to dry to its normal finish on a somewhat absorptive surface.

HOLIDAYS
Voids in the dried paint film.

HOT SPOTS
Lime spots, which are not completely cured and bleed through the coating on a plastered wall.

 

 

IN-PLACE MANAGEMENT
A series of steps used as an alternative to lead-based paint removal. Improves condition of intact lead-based paint to reduce and/or eliminate hazards without total removal.

INERT
A material that will not react chemically with other ingredients.

INHIBITOR
Material such as primer used to retard rusting or corrosion.

INTERCOAT ADHESION
The adhesion between two coats of paint.

INTERIOR
The inside surfaces of a structure.

INTERMEDIATE COAT
The coating between the primer and finish often called a barrier coat.

INTUMESCENCE
A mechanism whereby fire-retardant paints protect the substrates to which they are applied. An intumescent paint puffs up when exposed to high temperatures, forming an insulating, protective layer over the substrate.

 

 

JOINT CEMENT
Cement used for drywall construction; also used as a bedding compound for joint tape and as a filler for nail holes.

JOINT TAPE
Special paper or paper-faced cotton tape used over joints between wallboard to conceal the joint and provide a smooth surface for painting.

 

 

KALSOMINE
See Calcimine.

 

 

LACQUER
A fast-drying usually clear coating that is highly flammable and dries by solvent evaporation only. Can be reconstituted after drying by adding solvent.

LAP
To lay or place one coat so its edge extends over and covers the edge of a previous coat, causing an increased film thickness.

LATEX
A water-thinned paint, such as a polyvinyl acetate, styrene butadiene or acrylic.

LEAD
A metal, previously used as a pigment in paints. Discontinued in the early 1950s by industry consensus standard, and banned by the Consumer Products Safety Commission in 1978 because of its toxicity.

LEVELING
Ability of a film to flow out free from ripples, pockmarks and brush marks after application.

LIFTING
The softening and penetration of a previous film by solvents in the paint being applied over it, resulting in raising and wrinkling.

LIGHTFASTNESS
No loss of color due to exposure to light, heat or weathering.

LINSEED OIL
Drying oil made from the flax seed. Used as a solvent in many oil- based paints. "Boiled" linseed oil can be used to protect wood from water damage. Sometimes used as a furniture polish.

LIQUID DRIERS
Solution of soluble driers in organic solvents.

LITHOPONE
A white pigment of barium sulfate and zinc sulfide.

 

 

MARINE PAINT
Coating specially designed for immersion in water and exposure to marine atmosphere. (See also Anti-fouling Paint)

MARINE VARNISH
Varnish specially designed for immersion in water and exposure to marine atmosphere.

MASKING TAPE
A strip of paper or cloth similar to adhesive tape, which can be easily removed, used to temporarily cover areas that are not to be painted.

MASKING
Temporary covering of areas not to be painted.

MASTIC
A heavy-bodied paste like coating of high build often applied with a trowel.

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET (MSDS)
Information sheet that lists any hazardous substance that comprises one percent or more of the product's total volume. Also lists procedures to follow in the event of fire, explosion, leak or exposure to hazardous substance by inhalation, ingestion or contact with skin or eyes. Coatings manufacturers are required to provide retailers with an MSDS for every product they sell to the retailer. Sales clerks should make MSDSs available to retail customers.

METALLICS
A class of paints that include metal flakes in their composition.

MILDEW RESISTANCE
The ability of a coating to resist the growth of molds and mildew. Mildew is particularly prevalent in moist, humid and warm climates.

MILDEWCIDE
An agent that helps prevent molds or mildew growth on paint.

MINERAL SPIRITS
Paint thinners or solvents derived from petroleum.

MONOMER
Substance composed of low molecular weight molecules capable of reacting with like or unlike molecules to form a polymer.

 

 

NAILHEAD RUSTING
Rust from iron nails that penetrates or bleeds through the coating and stains the surrounding areas.

NAP
The length of fibers in a paint roller cover.

NAPHTHA
A petroleum distillate used mostly by professionals (as opposed to do-it- yourself painters) for cleanup and to thin solvent-based coatings. A volatile organic compound (see VOC).

NATURAL RESINS
Resins from trees, plants, fish and insects. Examples
damars, copals.

NONVOLATILE
The portion of paint left after the solvent evaporates; sometimes called the solids content.

 

 

OIL PAINT
A paint that contains drying oil, oil varnish or oil-modified resin as the film-forming ingredient. The term is commonly and incorrectly used to refer to any paint soluble by organic solvents.

OIL STAINS
There are two types of oil stains, penetrating and non-penetrating. Penetrating oil stains contain dyes and resins that penetrate the surface; non-penetrating oil stains contain larger amounts of pigments and are usually opaque or transparent.

OLEORESIN
A natural plant product that contains oil and resins. Turpentine is an example.

OPACITY
The ability of a paint to hide the previous surface or color.

OPAQUE COATING
A coating that hides the previous surface coating.

ORANGE PEEL
Film having the roughness of an orange due to poor roller or spray application.

OXIDATION
Chemical reaction upon exposure to oxygen. Some coatings cure by oxidation, when oxygen enters the liquid coating and cross-links the resin molecules. This film-forming method is also called "Air Cure" and "Air Dry." (Oxidation also causes rust on bare metals.)

 

 

PAINT GAUGE
Instrument for measuring the thickness of paint film.PAINT REMOVER
A chemical that softens old paint or varnish and permits it to be easily scraped off. Also called "stripper."

PAINT REMOVER
A compound that softens old paint or varnish and permits scraping off the loosened material.

PAINT THINNER
See Mineral Spirits

PAINT
A coating including resin, a solvent, additives, pigments and, in some products, a diluent. Paints are generally opaque, and commonly represent the portion of the industry known as "architectural coatings."

PATCHING PLASTER
A special plaster made for repairing plaster walls.

PEELING
Detachment of a dried paint film in relatively large pieces, usually caused by moisture or grease under the painted surface.

PENETRATING FINISH
A finish that sinks into the substrate, as opposed to settling on the surface.

PIGMENT
Insoluble, finely ground materials that give paint its properties of color and hide. Titanium dioxide is the most important pigment used to provide hiding in paint. Other pigments include anatase titanium, barium metaborate, barium sulphate, burnt sienna, burnt umber, carbon black, China clay, chromium oxide, iron oxide, lead carbonate, strontium chromate, Tuscan red, zinc oxide, zinc phosphate and zinc sulfide.

PIHNOLE
Very small holes in paint film, usually not deep enough to show undercoat.

PLASTER OF PARIS
A quick setting, pure white powder, used to set bathroom wall fixtures such as towel racks or used by craft groups for pouring molds and making plaster objects.

POLYMER
Substance, the molecules of which consist of one or more structural units repeated any number of times; vinyl resins are examples of true polymers.

POLYMERIZATION
The interlocking of molecules by chemical reaction to produce very large molecules. The process of making plastics and plastic-based resins.

POLYURETHANE
Wide range of coatings, ranging from hard gloss enamels to soft flexible coatings. Good to very good adhesion, hardness, flexibility and resistance. Surface preparation critical.

POLYVINYL ACETATE
A synthetic resin largely used as a vehicle for many latex paints. Often referred to as PVA.

POLYVINYL CHLORIDE
A synthetic resin used in the binders of coatings. Tends to discolor under exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Commonly called "vinyl."

POT LIFE
Amount of time after mixing a two-part paint system during which it can be applied.

PRIME COAT OR PRIMER
The first coat or undercoat that helps bind the topcoat to the substrate.

PRIMER
First complete coat of paint of a painting system applied to a surface. Such paints are designed to provide adequate adhesion to new surfaces or are formulated to meet the special requirements of the surfaces.PROPELLANT The gas used to expel materials from aerosol containers.

PROPELLANT
The gas used to expel materials from aerosol containers.

PUTTY
Doughlike mixture of pigment and oil used to set glass in window frames and to fill nail holes and cracks.

 

REMOVERS
Substances used to soften old varnish or paint so they may be removed easily.

RESIN
Synthetic or natural material used as the binder in coatings. Can be translucent or transparent, solid or semi-solid. Examples
acrylic, alkyd, copal ester, epoxy, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, silicone.

ROLLER
A paint application tool having a revolving cylinder covered with lambs-wool, fabric, foamed plastic or other material.

ROPINESS
Paint dries with a stringy look because it did not flow evenly onto the surface.

ROSIN
Natural resin obtained from living pine trees or from dead tree stumps and knots.

RUNS
Blemished film caused by excessive flow of coating.

RUST PREVENTATIVE PAINT OR PRIMER
The first coat of paint applied directly to iron or steel structures to slow down or prevent rust.

 

 

SAGS
Excessive flow, causing runs or sagging in paint film during application. Usually caused by applying too heavy a coat of paint or thinning too much.

SAL SODA
Crystallized sodium carbonate. It is used for making cleaning solutions to remove grease and grime from old painted surfaces.

SAND FINISH
Rough finish plaster wall.

SANDING SURFACES
A heavily pigmented finishing material used for building the surface to a smooth condition. It is sanded after drying.

SATIN FINISH
See Semi-Gloss

SCRUBBABILITY
The ability of a paint film to withstand scrubbing and cleaning with water, soap and other household cleaning agents.

SEALER
A thin liquid applied to seal a surface, to prevent previous paint from bleeding through from the surface or to prevent undue absorption of the topcoat into the substrate.

SEEDS
Small, undesirable particles or granules other than dust found in paint, varnish or lacquer.

SELF-CLEANING
Controlled chalking of a paint film so dirt does not adhere to the surface.

SEMI-GLOSS FINISH
Finish that has a low luster sheen. Semi-gloss paints are formulated to give this result (usually 35-70 degrees on a 60-degree meter).

SEMI-TRANSPARENT
A degree of hiding greater than transparent but less than opaque.

SET UP
A film that has dried so that it is firm is said to have "set up".

SETTLING
Paint separation in which pigments accumulate at the bottom of the container.

SHAKE PAINTER
A rectangular-shaped flat pad with an attached handle that is used to paint shingles, shakes and other special surfaces and areas.

SHEEN UNIFORMITY
The even distribution of luster over the entire surface of an applied finish.

SHEEN
The degree of luster of a dried paint film.

SHELLAC
Derived from a resinous substance called Lac. Used as a sealer and finish for floors, for sealing knots and other purposes. A natural resin, usually in the form of thin flakes.

SILICONE
A resin used in the binders of coatings. Also used as an additive to provide specific properties, e.g., defoamer. Paints containing silicone are very slick and resist dirt, graffiti and bacterial growth, and are stable in high heat.

SKIN
Tough covering that forms on paints if container is not tightly sealed.

SOLIDS
The part of the coating that remains on a surface after the vehicle has evaporated. The dried paint film. Also called Nonvolatile.

SOLVENT
Any liquid which can dissolve a resin. Generally refers to the liquid portion of paints and coatings that evaporates as the coating dries.

SOURCE REDUCTION
Steps taken to reduce waste generation and toxicity at the source through more effective utilization of raw materials and reformulation.

SPACKLING COMPOUND
A material used as crack filler for preparing surfaces before painting.

SPAR VARNISH
A very durable varnish designed for service on exterior surfaces.

SPATTER
Small particles or drips of liquid paint thrown or expelled when applying paint.

SPECULAR GLOSS
Mirror-like finish (usually 60 degrees on a 60-degree meter).

SPOT PRIMING
A method of protecting localized spots. The only areas primed are those that require additional protection due to rusting or peeling of the former coat.

SPRAYING
A method of application in which the coating material is broken up into a fine mist that is directed onto the surface to be coated.

SPREADING RATE
The area to which paint can be spread; usually expressed as square feet per gallon.

STAIN
A solution or suspension of coloring matter in a vehicle designed primarily to be applied to create color effects rather than to form a protective coating. A transparent or semi-opaque coating that colors without completely obscuring the grain of the surface.

STIPPLING
A finish made by using a stippling brush or roller stippler or a newly painted surface before the paint is dry.

STREAKING
The irregular occurrence of lines or streaks of various lengths and colors in an applied film; usually caused by some form of contamination.

STRIP
Removal of old finishes with paint removers.

STYRENE-BUTADIENE
See Resin.

SUBSTRATE
Surface to be painted.

SURFACE TENSION
The property of a coating that makes it tend to shrink when applied.

 

 

TACK RAG
A piece of loosely woven cloth that has been dipped into varnish oil and wrung out. When it becomes tacky or sticky, it is used to wipe a surface to remove particles of dust.

TACKY
Sticky condition of coating during drying, between wet and dry-to-touch stage.

TEXTURE PAINT
Paint that can be manipulated by brush, roller, trowel or other tool to produce various effects.

TEXTURE
The roughness or irregularity of a surface.

THINNERS
Solvents used to thin coatings.

THIXOTROPY
The property of a material that causes it to change from a thick, pasty consistency to a fluid consistency upon agitation, brushing or rolling.

TINT BASE
The basic paint in a custom color system to which colorants are added.

TITANIUM DIOXIDE
White pigment in virtually all white paints. Prime hiding pigment in most paints.

TONER
Pigmented lacquer sealer that is applied by spray. Toners provide color and make the surface appear more even.

TOUCH UP
The ability of a coating film to be spot repaired (usually within a few months of initial painting) without showing color or gloss differences.

TURPENTINE
A colorless liquid, which is used as a thinner for oil paints and varnishes, distilled from the products of the pine tree.

 

 

UNDERCOAT
A primer or intermediate coating before the finish coating.

URETHANE
An important resin in the coatings industry. A true urethane coating is a two-component product that cures when an isocyanate (the catalyst) prompts a chemical reaction that unites the components.

 

 

VARNISH STAIN
Varnishes colored with a dye and without the same power of penetrations as the true stains, leaving a colored coating on the surface.

VARNISH
Transparent liquid that dries on exposure to air to give a decorative and protective and protective coating when applied as a thin film.

VEHICLE
Portion of a coating that includes all liquids and the binder. The vehicle and the pigment are the two basic components of paint.

VINYL
A resin with poor adhesion but good hardness, flexibility and resistance. Used for swimming pools, tank linings and marine equipment.

VISCOSITY
The property of a fluid whereby it tends to resist relative motion within itself.VISCOSITY
The thickness of a coating as related to its ability to flow as a liquid.

VOC
See Volatile Organic Compound

VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND
Organic chemicals and petrochemicals that emit vapors while evaporating. In paints, VOC generally refers to the solvent portion of the paint which, when it evaporates, results in the formation of paint film on the substrate to which it was applied.

VOLATILITY
The defining quality of a liquid that evaporates quickly when exposed to air.

VOLUME SOLIDS
Solid ingredients as a percentage of total ingredients. The volume of pigment plus binder divided by the total volume, expressed as a percent. High-volume solids mean a thicker dry film with improved durability.

 

 

WASHABILITY
The ability of a paint to be easily cleaned without wearing away during cleaning.

WATER EMULSIONS
Mixture of pigment and synthetic resin in water with low solvent emission, low fire hazard and toxicity and good durability and chemical resistance.

WATER SPOTTING
A paint appearance defect caused by water droplets.

WATER-BASED
Coatings in which the majority of the liquid content is water.

WEATHERING
The effect of exposure to weather on paint films.

WET EDGE
Length of time a wall paint can stand and be brushed back in to the next stretch without showing a lap.

WHITE LEAD
Lead carbonate

WITHERING
Withering a loss of gloss is sometimes caused by varnishing open-pore woods without filling pores, use of improper undercoating or applying top coat before undercoat has dried.

WOOD FILLER
There are two kinds of fillers-paste and liquid. Paste fillers are something like a very thick paint and are composed of some solid powdered substance, usually silica or powdered quartz, mixed with linseed oil or varnish thinned with turpentine or benzine.

WRINKLING
Development of ridges and furrows in a paint film when the paint dries.

 

 

YELLOWING
Development of a yellow color or cast in white, a pastel, colored or clear finishes.

 

 

ZINC CHROMATE
Rust-inhibiting pigment, greenish-yellow in color that is used with a high-hiding pigment.

ZINC OXIDE
Substance used as a white pigment for high-hiding power hardness and gloss. Reduces yellowing, increases drying; provides resistance to sulfur fumes and mildew. Used with linseed oil for self-cleaning exterior paints.