Chemistry is everywhere. Even where you don't expect it. With the 'chemistry =' poster campaign we want to show how self-explanatory chemistry actually is. Want to know more about the chemistry involved? Scroll down for additional information.
Paint is composed of two liquid parts and one solid part. The liquid parts are the binder and the solvent. The binder is a natural or synthetic resin that solidifies after drying. The solvent is organic, like turpentine, but can also be water. The solvent makes the paint thinner, so that it can easily be applied and can dry properly. The solid part is the pigment. Pigments give the paint its colour and provide protection.
Absorbent pigments
Pigment is usually found in powder form. There are synthetic and natural pigments. Minerals are an example of natural pigments. By grinding a mineral (or other pigment) and mixing it with a binder and a solvent, you get paint. Pigments absorb certain wavelengths of light. The colour of the pigment comes from the wavelengths of light that are reflected. Pigments which absorb all the wavelengths are black. Pigments which reflect all the wavelengths are white.
Water paint
Paint dries as a result of the solvent evaporating. Or as a result of cooling. Sometime a catalyst is used to speed up the drying time. Increasingly more types of water-based paints are being developed, like acrylic and latex paints. These types of paint are less harmful to man and the environment because they do not contain an organic solvent. That’s the low-down on paint!
