Paint making process

What is paint made from?

Paint consists of binders, pigments and fillers, solvents or water, and of so-called additives. When developing new paint, the raw materials are chosen for compatibility with the object to be painted. Choice is based on the suitability of the raw materials for the application in question and on the safety and environmental properties of the raw materials.

Binders form a film and bind the raw materials in the paint to each other. Binders are chosen according to the paint properties required and can thus greatly affect the ability of the paint to withstand the weather, wear and tear and washing and also the type of substrates to wich the paint can be applied.

Pigments are fine granular powders that are insoluble in water; they are added to paint mainly to provide the desired colour and coverage. Pigments also provide protection against the sun's ultraviolet rays and some pigments improve a coating's anti-corrosive properties. Fillers are also insoluble fine granular powders but do not give paint colour or coverage. They are used to give paint its required opacity and application properties.

Water and/or solvents give paint the required viscosity so that it can be applied sparingly to a substrate.

A host of additives may be added to paint, but they constitute a very small part of the production formula. Additives are used to affect the paint-making process flow, or for paint preservation and outdoor durability.