AABRASIVE - Any material used for wearing away a surface by rubbing or friction. Sandpaper, steel wool, emery paper, silica and powdered pumice are some common examples.

ACCELERATE - See Catalyst

ABSORPTION - A surface is absorbent when it absorbs or takes into itself and holds the coating applied over it. Primers or Sealers are used to reduce the absorbency of a surface, thus ensuring a more uniform finish.

ACIDS - These chemicals are usually highly corrosive and may be used (in conjunction with other compounds) to “acid-etch” metals, smooth concrete, etc.

ACRYLIC - A synthetic plastic resin used in latex paints and also in certain fast-drying enamels and lacquers. Principally derived from acrylic acids. Has excellent durability

AIRLESS SPRAY - Atomisation is achieved by forcing the paint through a very small orifice at very high fluid pressure. This pressure is developed in a special high pressure pump and delivered to the gun through a single hose line. Atomisation occurs without the use of air jets because of the very high velocity of the paint developed and the sudden release of pressure at the spray tip.

ALKALI - A substance that neutralizes acids, such as lye, soda, lime, etc. Alkalis or strong alkaline solutions are highly destructive to paint films, in particular alkyds. Commonly found in uncured concrete, plaster, etc.

ALKYD RESIN - A synthetic resin made from various alcohol and acidic chemicals modified with various oils. Today most solvent thinned interior and exterior paints contain alkyd resins.

ALLIGATORING - A term used to describe a painted surface which has cracked into large segments.

ANILINE DYES - Dyes made from coal, tar, or its derivatives. Sometimes used in wood stains.

ANTICORROSIVE PAINTS - Primers or finish coats used on steels or other metals to prevent or retard corrosion. Usually based on a water-resisting resin.

ANTI-FOULING PAINT - Used on marine craft, below the water line. Contains certain poisons to prevent growth of barnacles and other marine life on the vessels hull.

ASBESTOS - A fireproof material consisting of fibres of magnesium silicate. Its use is generally restricted due to associated health risks.

ASPHALT - A distillate residue derived from crude oil. Available in many grades. Proper grades form protective coatings for roofs and foundations to protect from water, rust and chemicals. Remains soft and pliable.

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BBAKING FINISHES - A baking enamel is one which requires elevated temperatures to become hard dry. Baking may be done in any oven, by induction heating or by red lamps, depending on specifications and other requirements. Carried out to reduce drying times.

BARRIER COAT - An initial coating used to isolate subsequent coatings from the substrate or previous finishes. Sometimes referred to as a basecoat.

BINDER - (Vehicle) Non-volatile portion of a paint or enamel which binds or cements. Emulsions are examples of the most commonly used binders.

BITUMINOUS PAINT - Formulated on asphaltum or bitumen, it is often black in colour and used as a membrane coating to seal against the ingress of water.

BITTY FILM - A film containing bits of skin, gel, flocculated material or foreign particles, which project above the surface of the film.

BLEACHING - The process of restoring wood to its original colour (or making it lighter) by using oxalic acid or other bleaching compounds.

BLEEDING - Discoloration caused by a soluble stain coming through subsequent coatings.

BLISTERING - Formulation of bubbles on the surface coating usually caused by applying paint to damp surfaces, into which moisture has entered through some indirect source (poor joints, cracks, etc.) or to surfaces that are too hot. Anything that causes vapour to form under the film may cause blistering.

BLOOM - Formation of a white or greyish mist in the paint film which usually occurs during the drying process in cold or high humidity conditions, such as dew formation, thereby reducing the lustre or deforming its depth of colour. May also refer to a deposit of foreign matter on a finished surface. e.g. smoke, dust etc.

BLUEING - Adding small amounts of blue pigments to white paints. This has the visual effect of making the finish look “whiter” to the eye.

BLUSHING - This is a film defect recognised as a milky opalescence which appears as the film dries. Blushing can be caused by the rapid evaporation of solvents on days of high humidity.

BODY - (“Consistency” or “viscosity”) Thickness of a fluid.

BODYING - The increase of consistency of a paint.

BRIDGING - The ability of a coating to cover a crack, void or small gap without a break in the film.

BRONZING - The formation of a characteristic red or yellow metallic lustre in a film that is seen only at certain angles.

BRUSHABILITY - The ability or ease with which a paint enamel or varnish can be brushed on a surface under practical conditions.

BUILD - Applied thickness of a paint film, wet or dry.

BURNING-OFF - The softening of a paint film by a flame and scraping off while still soft.

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CCAKING - The hard setting of paint components (see also setting).

CALCIUM CARBONATE - Plain white chalk. Can be used as an extender for water-thinned and exterior colours.

CASE HARDENING - Occurs when a coating dries hard on top but remains more or less soft underneath.

CASTOR OIL - A non-drying oil obtained from the castor bean. May be converted to a drying oil by chemical treatment to dehydrate it.

CATALYST - A chemical agent used in rather small amounts as an additive to accelerate or activate a chemical reaction.

CAULKING COMPOUND - A paste-like material which is very sticky when applied yet dries on the surface so it may be painted. It remains pliable and elastic so that it can withstand the expansion and contraction of joints and cracks it is used to fill.

CELLULOSE ACETATE - A binder manufactured by chemical reaction or acetic acid and cellulose or cotton linters.

CELLULOSE NITRATE - A binder made by chemical reaction of nitric acid on cellulose. Known also as nitro-cellulose and pyroxylin.

CEMENT BASED PAINT - Dry or powder type paints containing Portland Cement, usually recommended for masonry surfaces or galvanized metal.

CHALKING - Powder formation (white) on the surface of the paint film due to the break down of the binder portion of the coating.

CHECKING - The formation of short narrow cracks in the surface of the paint film.

CHEESY - The rather soft and mechanically weak condition of a film that is dry to touch but has not fully cured.

CHIPPING - The removal of paint and surface contaminants from a surface by means of a sharpened tool.

CHLORINATED RUBBER - A synthetic resin made by chlorinating synthetic or natural rubber under specific conditions.

CISSING - An effect that occurs where a finishing material will not remain spread in a continuous film. Beading.

CLOUDING - Loss of lustre with an accompanying appearance of a semi-opaque film on the surface.

COAT OF PAINT - A continuous layer of paint film resulting from a single application of paint

COBWEBBING - Generally refers to the formation of fine threads of partly dried paint during the spraying process, instead of a continuous flow.

COLD WATER PAINT - A water-thinned paint used on concrete, masonry, plaster and other

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surfaces. The vehicle or binder is composed of casein, dew and other similar materials readily dissolved in water.

COLOURANT - Any dye colour or pigment or concentrate that may be added to a liquid surface coating in order to impart a colour to that coating i.e. tinting.

COLOUR CHANGE - A change in the colour of the paint film as a result of being exposed.

CONSISTENCY - The apparent viscosity (or thickness) of a paint (see viscosity).

CONVENTIONAL SPRAY - Application of liquid material by means of compressed air spray gun. The “gun” is essentially a device for atomizing the paint with compressed air and directing it onto the surface to be coated.

CO-POLYMER - A resin or polymer formed from two or more different types of molecules called monomers.

COVERAGE - Indicates the spreading rate, usually expressed in terms of square metres covered per litre of material used.

COVERING POWER - The capacity of any pigmented paint film to hide the colour of the previous surface.

CRACKING - Advanced state of checking or crazing whereby the breaks in the film are so deep as to expose the underlaying surface.

CRATERING - The remaining effect of burst bubbles (see CISSING).

CRAZING - The appearance of minute, interlacing cracks on the surface of a dried film or finished material.

CURING - The completion of the chemical processes within the paint film to achieve maximum performance characteristics.

CUTTING-IN - Careful painting of edges of woodwork to avoid the spreading of paint to adjacent areas eg. where a wall colour meets the edges of window framing, etc.

DDADO - Refers to the lower broad part of the inside wall being finished in wallpaper or paint

DELAMINATION - Separation of various paint layers from the substrate or previous coatings.

DENSITY - Amount per unit of volume or area of any physical quantity - i.e. mass per unit volume.

DISPERSION - System of suspending particles (fine) in a fluid.

DRAG - When applying paint by brush or roller, this refers to the force of resistance that is encountered while spreading.

DRIERS - Chemical compounds of various metals used to hasten the drying action of oils when added to paints, enamels or varnishes.

DRY FILM THICKNESS - The average thickness of, usually, one hard dry coat of material.

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DRY SPRAY -The rough, powdery non uniform film produced when sprayed atomised paint dries before reaching the surface.

DRYINGTIME - The time required for an applied coating to reach the desired stage of hardness i.e. solid film. Various stages of drying are “dust-free”, “tackfree”, “touch-dry”, “dry to handle”, “dry to recoat”, “dry to sand” and “hard-dry”. Drying times, usually quoted under constant normal conditions, are highly variable depending upon ambient conditions.

DRY TO HANDLE - A state during the drying or curing process when the paint film has hardened sufficiently for the object to be moved carefully without marking of the film.

DRY TO SAND - A state during the drying or curing process when the paint film can be sanded to remove imperfections without sticking or clogging of the sand paper or tearing of the film.

DRY TO RECOAT - The stage during the drying or airing process when the next coat can be applied without adverse effects.

DRYING OILS - Oils which convert to solids when exposed to the oxygen in the air. The most common drying oils used in paints and varnishes are linseed, sunflower, tung, soybean and fish oil.

DURABILITY - The ability of a coating to withstand the destructive effect of the conditions to which they are subjected i.e. whether it be actual usage or service.

DUST FREE - A stage during the drying or curing process when particles of fine dust that may settle on the surface do not stick to the paint film.

EEFFLORESCENCE - Salts or other deposits leached to the surface of masonry by the action of moisture or residue due to evaporation.

EGGSHELL FINISH -An indefinite term used to describe a finish with little or no lustre. It also refers to an off-white colour.

ELASTICITY - Property of a coating to expand or change shape and return to its original condition without breakage.

ELECTROSTATIC SPRAY - A spraying technique that relies on electrostatic charges to attract an atomized paint coating to its target.

EMULSION - A liquid formed by suspending fine particles (microscopic droplets) of an oil, resin, or other immiscible liquid in water. Usually a dispersant is used to promote this intermixing.

ENAMEL - A paint containing a rather high proportion of resin or varnish binder in comparison to the amount of pigment used. Usually produces glossy or semi-gloss film. A broad classification applied to synthetic oil-bound paints that dry to a smooth, hard finish.

EPOXY - A synthetic resin having very high resistance to most chemicals. In certain forms epoxy resins require addition of a catalyst to form a cured film.

EROSION - Deterioration of the paint film by natural weathering which may expose the substrate.

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ETCH PRIMER - A primer coating, usually containing a mild acid, that is used to promote the adhesion of subsequent coatings of metal.

EXTENDER - A pigment of low hiding power, used principally to “extend” or make paint go farther and to bind together pigment particles of various shapes. Used because of its physical or chemical properties.

FFATTY EDGE - A rounded, thicker film found along the edges of painted work either as a result of accumulation or incorrect levelling of the coating.

FEATHERING - Laying off the paint film to provide a tapering from little or no paint film to the full coating.

FEATHER SANDING - The sanding of a paint edge to produce a smooth contour from one side to the other.

FILLER - A composition material used to fill the pores and cracks in wood before applying paint, varnish or enamel.

FISH OIL - The semi-drying oil from marine animals.

FLAKING - A condition occurring when small pieces of a paint film break off.

FLATTING AGENT -A metallic ingredient (aluminium, zinc, calcium, etc.) used in varnishes, lacquers, paints to reduce the gloss or to give a finish a “rubbed’ appearance.

FLATTING DOWN - Rubbing down a painted surface with the abrasives to produce a smooth dull finish.

FLAT WALL PAINT - A category of interior paint formulated to produce a flat finish, without lustre or side sheen.

FLOTATION/FLOATING -The separation of the colour pigment from the paint vehicle resulting in colour “spots” forming on the surface either during drying or storage.

FLASH OFF - The initial part of the drying process in which a substantial proportion of the volatile solvent evaporates.

FLASH POINT - The temperature at which a paint or liquid will support flame if ignited.

FLOOD COAT - Application of considerably more finishing material than is required in order to achieve an extremely even/smooth finished surface.

FLOW - The ability of a paint coating to level or spread into a uniform film before drying.

GGALVANISED (IRON) - Sheet iron with a surface layer of zinc. May require special treatment before painting.

GELLING - The partial or complete deterioration of a paint or varnish into a jelly-like condition.

GHOSTING - A shadowed effect in a paint film which when applied is not uniform in sheen due to lack of a suitable primer.

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GLAZE - A translucent coating applied over a previous finish to enrich or protect the finish.

GLOSS - Apparent sheen level of the surface material, i.e. flat, lowgloss, semigloss, gloss and full gloss.

GRAIN RAISING - The process of swelling the fibres of wood by application of a liquid.

GROUND COAT - First or primer coat.

GRINNING - Observed where the substrate shows through a subsequent coating.

HHAIR LINE CRACKS - Fine cracks in a paint or varnish film or in plaster.

HARDENER - An additive used to cure or promote the cure of resins in a paint coating.

HARDNESS - A term used to describe the ability of a paint film to resist impact damage, scratching or abrasion.

HARD SETTLING - Accumulation of solids on the bottom of a paint container which are difficult to reincorporate.

HEAVY BODIED - Indicates a high viscosity or thixotropic liquid coating,

HIDING POWER - See Covering Power.

HIGH BUILD COATING - A paint which can be applied in one coat of relatively thick film of paint without sagging or running.

HIGH GLOSS FINISH - Full gloss - a category of interior paint formulated to produce a very lustrous glossy finish.

HOLIDAYS - Areas of a surface missed by the painter. Also known as “skips”.

HUNGRY - Porous or absorbent surface.

IINERT - Inactive. In the paint industry a material to which the word “inert” is applied will not react chemically with other ingredients used with it in making paint, varnish or enamel.

INTERMEDIATE COAT - Any coat between the primer/sealer coat and the finishing coat.

INTUMESCENCE - The property of a dry paint film to bubble up and form a charred crust when exposed to flame, thus protecting the substrate from burning or melting.

JJOINT TAPE - Usually a paper-faced cotton tape used over joints between wallboards to conceal the joint and provide a smooth surface for painting.

KKALSOMINE - A cold-water paint composed of pigmented chalk (calcium carbonate or clay), and glue.

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LLACQUER - A fast-drying clear or pigmented coating which dries by evaporation of the thinner or solvent. Most lacquers have a vehicle formed from a cellulose base e.g. nitrocellulose.

LAP - Describes that area of a coating which extends over the edge of a previous (uncured) coat usually resulting in an increase in the coating’s thickness at that point

LATEX - A dispersion emulsion of natural or synthetic rubber, or rubber-like resin in water.

LAYING OFF - The last process in applying paint whereby a brush or roller is used in light single direction strokes to level and even out the applied coating.

LEVELLING - The formation of a smooth film on either a horizontal or vertical surface by any means of application. A film which has good levelling characteristics is comparatively free of brush marks.

LIFTING - The softening swelling and wrinkling of a dry coat due to solvents of subsequent coat being applied.

LINSEED OIL - A vehicle or binder oil obtained from the seed of flax. Used extensively in paints, varnishes and lacquers. Boiled oil is used in cold weather to speed drying time, while raw oil is used in summer to slow up the drying time.

LUSTRE - Gloss or shine of a finished surface.

MMASKING TAPE - A pressure sensitive paper tape which can be used to temporarily cover areas not to be painted and can be easily removed.

MATT - Surface created which is substantially free of any gloss or sheen, but has a very low sheen when viewed at an angle.

MEDIUM - The total constituents of the liquid phase of the paint.

MICRON - One thousandth of a millimetre. Standard unit in measuring film thickness.

MILDEW - A discoloration on paints caused by fungus growth.

MINERAL SPIRITS - Thinner with a petroleum base.

MIST COAT - A very thin coat applied by spraying, often diluted with an appropriate solvent

MOBILITY - The degree of ease with which a material flows.

MONOCHROME - Paint scheme using different shades of a single colour.

MUDCRACKING - Irregular surface cracks caused by shrinkage during drying, often as a result of excessive coating thickness.

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NNIBS - Foreign particles, such as dust, which cause the formation of raised specks in the dried film.

NON-VOLATILE CONTENT - That portion of the paint material which remains after evaporation of all other chemicals under normal conditions.

OOIL STAIN - Colouring matter in blends of oil or varnish.

OPACITY - See Covering Power.

ORANGE PEEL - Roughened appearance of a sprayed film caused by improper solvent balance. Also effect caused when enamels are allowed to dry for a short time and then rolled.

ORGANIC COLOURS - Synthetic pigments of animal, vegetable or dyestuff origin.

OVERSPRAY - Sprayed paint which misses the surface to be coated.

PPAINT REMOVER - Generally refers to a class of chemicals that softens a dried paint film allowing easier removal by scraping or hosing off with water.

PEELING - Condition occurring when a paint film breaks away in comparatively large pieces. Usually due to incorrect surface preparation. PRIMER -The “ground” or first coat, helps promote adhesion between the substrate and succeeding coats.

PICKLING - A treatment for the removal of rust and milliscale from steel by immersing in an acid solution.

PIGMENT - Finely ground mineral materials which are insoluble in oils, varnishes, lacquers, thinners, etc. They are used to impart colour, opacity and hiding power as well as other effects.

PINHOLING - The formation of minute holes in the dry film, created during the application process.

PITTING - Holes or other irregularities caused by corrosion on metallic surfaces.

PLASTICIZERS - A soft resin or oil added to or mixed in with hard resins that would otherwise be too brittle for practical use.

POLYMER - A resinous or plastic material composed of very large molecules which have been formed from a group of smaller molecules of various chemicals. Formed by a process called polymerization. (See below)

POLYMERIZATION - A chemical process in which small molecules or units of a certain chemical are caused to join with molecules of the same chemical to form very large or long-chain molecules. When a chemical is caused to join with a different type of chemical the process is called co-poly-merization.

POLYVINYL ACETATE (PVA) - Synthetic resins usually used in latex form in paints.

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POLYURETHANE RESINS - Synthetic resins which catalyze to form thermoset plastics. Often used to form tough clear finishes.

POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC) - Thermoplastic polymer with good resistance to various chemicals. May be used in vinyl paints.

POPPING - A film defect in the form of a bubble resulting from the expansion of material in the plaster substrate due to their hydration.

POT-LIFE - The time period in which a two-part reactive material remains usable.

PRIMER - The “ground” or first coat, helps promote adhesion between the substrate and succeeding coats,

PUTTY - A dough-like mixture of pigment (usually whiting) and linseed oil. Used to set glass in window frames, and to fill holes and cracks in wood.

RREDUCER - SeeThinner.

RETARDER - A slow evaporating solvent which slows the drying rate of a paint material in order to improve the application properties.

RESIN -A solid or semi-solid material of vegetable origin or synthetic origin. The colour ranges from yellow to amber to dark brown. Resin is usually transparent or translucent, and is found in varying degrees of hardness. Resin forms the basis of all modern paints.

REVERSIBLE TIP - Generally used in conjunction with Airless Spray Equipment. The spray tip contains the small orifice through which paint is forced under pressure, if blocked a small lever reverses the tip and the orifice is cleared when the pressure is reapplied. This device has resulted in considerable time savings in down time.

ROPY - Stringy consistency of a material that doesn’t allow levelling of the film. Can also be caused by brushing a partially set paint film.

RUNS - Defects on a paint film in the form of sagging paint in narrow ribbons flowing downwards on vertical surfaces due to surface irregularities or too heavy an application. Also known as “sags”.

SSAGS - See Runs.

SANDING SEALER - A heavy bodied material used to fill grain etc. and to produce a smooth surface once sanded.

SAPONIFICATION - Breakdown of a paint film resulting from the action of alkali on the binder medium in paint

SCRUBBABLE - Surface coating especially designed to resist abrasion and hard scrubbing.

SEALER - A coat of paint, or other material, used for the purpose of sealing the pores in a surface before top-coating.

SEEDING - Formation of granules of undissolved resins or pigments, in the paint material.

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SEMI-GLOSS FINISH - A category of interior paint formulated to produce a satin finish.

SET - A paint film that has dried to the extent that it is firm is said to have “set”.

SETTLING - Separation of pigment or other solids in the paint which then accumulate in the bottom of the container.

SHEEN - Degree of gloss visible when a surface is viewed at an angle of 5 degrees or less.

SHEARY - Indicates a lack of uniformity in gloss upon drying of the coating.

SHELF LIFE - The time a manufactured paint product may be stored in unopened containers without any reduction in quality or performance.

SHELLAC - The product obtained by refining seed lac by either heat processes or by heat and solvent processes.

SILICONES - The oxide of silicon reduced to liquid form. A water repellent or paint modifier.

SKINNING - Formation of a solid film on the exposed surface of paint or varnish in a container.

SOLVENTS - Often referred to as thinners designed to achieve a viscosity in the paint that optimizes application under given conditions. During the manufacture of paint, the binder portion is suspended in the solvent.

SPATTER (FLY) - Particles of paint scattered by the action of a brush or roller during the application process.

SPACKLING COMPOUND - A finely ground mixture of powders which, when mixed with water, give a paste to be used in the repair of hair-line cracks, nicks, and small holes in plaster or wood.

SPREADING RATE -The area in square metres covered by 1 litre of paint.

STIPPLING - A slightly roughened or pebbled finish achieved by impressing the ends of the brush into a wet or partially dry paint film.

STREAKING - Irregular lines or streaks of colour in a paint film causes by insufficient or improper incorporation of colorant.

SUBSTRATE - Surface upon which a coating is to be applied.

TTACK - A slight stickiness or tackiness on the surface of a paint or varnish film before it is completely set.

TACK RAG - A cloth impregnated with chemicals or oil to provide tackiness. Used for removing dust from surfaces to be painted.

TEREBINE - See Driers.

TEXTURE PAINT - A thick, heavily bodied paint which may be shaped into various raised designs with a brush roller trowel, or other tools.

THINNERS - Volatile liquids used to regulate the consistency of paint and varnish. See solvents.

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THIXOTROPY - A condition wherein paint assumes a heavy body when undisturbed and a thin body when stirred or shaken.

TINT BASE - The basic paint to which colorants are added as required to make a wide range of colours.

TINTER - See Colourant.

TINTING STRENGTH - Ability of a coloured pigment to add colour to a white paint base.

TITANIUM DIOXIDE - A compound of titanium, white in colour. Used as a pigment in white paint products (latex or enamel) and noted for its extreme hiding power and long-lasting whiteness.

TURPENTINE - A colourless, volatile liquid obtained by distillation of the oleoresinous secretions found in pine trees.

UUNDERCOAT - Any film below the top coat, used to prepare the substrate (primed or otherwise) for the topcoat.

URETHANE - A synthetic resin formed by reaction of isocyanates and vegetable oils.

VVARNISH - A non-pigmented liquid composition which is converted to a translucent or transparent solid film after being applied in a thin layer.

VEHICLE - See Medium.

VINYL - A synthetic resin containing ethyl vinyl chloride and/or vinyl acetate.

VISCOSITY - The fluid thickness or resistance to flow of an oil, varnish, paint or enamel.

VOLUME SOLIDS - Non volatile content by volume.

WWASHABLE - Ability of a coating to withstand repeated washing without shearing or burnishing or displaying any other change in appearance.

WATER SPOTTING - Spots in a paint film, usually caused by solution of the water soluble components making up the paint.

WET EDGE - Property of a brushing (or rolled) paint coating that permits joining up freshly painted areas without leaving lap marks.

WRINKLING - Formation of the fine wrinkles or an irregular surface as the surface coating dries.

WOOD FILLER -A paste type material used for filling and colouring pores and grain in timber work.

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