For most people, paint is merely the color on their home’s walls, their car, or their boat—but paint is so much more than just shades and hues! It’s actually an incredible invention, in the sense that it’s applied as a liquid and dries by a variety of chemical processes to become a solid. And thanks to its ingenuity, we’re able to use paint for many different purposes including identification, protection, sanitation, and of course, decoration. Here’s a closer look at what paint is made of and how it’s manufactured to produce a product that’ll liven up your living space.
What Goes into Paint?
Historically, a lot of diverse materials have been used to create paint—even things like colored rocks, earth, and bits of bone were previously utilized, but thanks to advancements in modern technology, things are done differently now. Today, paint-makers use a specially curated list of high-quality ingredients, to ensure that the paint that reaches the shelves at stores meets all of its expectations. Here’s a closer look at the modern components used to manufacture paint:
- Pigments, which are used to provide the paint’s color and control the level of gloss.
- Resins, which hold the pigments together after they’ve been milled. They also provide adhesion and protection to the painted surface.
- Solvents, which act as carriers for the pigments and resins.
- Additives, used to enhance certain properties within the paint including ease of brushing, mold resistance, scuff resistance, and drying resistance.
What’s the Paint-Making Process Look Like?
Paint is manufactured in very large batches—200 or so liters at a time for special products, and around 10,000 liters at a time for mainline white products. Based on the type of paint being made, there is some variance in the process; however, it can usually be summarized by the following five key steps:
- Measurement of the ingredients – All of the ingredients are precisely measured by weight on scales, or in some cases by volume in calibrated vats and graduated measuring containers.
- Preparation of the mill-base – Pigments are powders of typically such a small size that they tend to clump together, so they must be broken down into separate particles and wetted by resins and additives to stop them from sticking together. This process of dispersion forms the mill-base.
- Addition of the let-down – The rest of the ingredients are combined in a separate vat, this mixture, called the let-down, is then stirred into the mill-base after any final additions are made.
- Evaluation of the product – The mixture needs to be tested for its quality; properties being evaluated include the degree of dispersion, consistency, density, tint color, application, dry time, and gloss and dry film appearance.
- Canning and distribution – After the batch has passed its inspection, a sample is taken and stored for future reference. Finally, the paint is canned and distributed to various branches and warehouses, where it will eventually find its way to you for use in your home!
About Platinum Painting of McKinney
Our team here at Platinum Painting of McKinney prides itself on the exceptional level of professional assistance we’re able to provide for homeowners in McKinney and the surrounding areas. If you have any questions about the blog or you’re gearing up to paint your home, please allow us to help you with every step of the process! You can contact us online or by phone today for further information or to set up a free estimate: (469) 617-6476.