Besides the three main categories of ingredients—pigments, binders, and solvents—paint can have a wide variety of miscellaneous additives. These are usually added in very small amounts and yet give a very significant effect on the final product. Examples include additives to modify surface tension, improve flow properties, enhance finished appearance, increase wet edge, improve pigment stability, impart antifreeze properties, control foaming, and control skinning.
Other critical additives include catalysts, thickeners, stabilizers, emulsifiers, texturizers, adhesion promoters, UV stabilizers, flatteners (de-glossing agents), and biocides to fight bacterial growth. Additives normally do not significantly alter the percentages of individual components in a formulation, but they are the difference between a standard coat and a masterpiece finish.[3]
Common Additives in the Field
Two of the most common conditioners we use are Floetrol (Water Based) and Penetrol (Oil Based). We also use precise amounts of Water to manipulate tension when necessary.
Floetrol is a water-based paint additive that improves the flow and leveling of latex or acrylic paint. It mimics the behavior of oil-based paint without the cleanup complications. By reducing surface tension, it allows the paint to "flow" together, eliminating brush and roller marks for a factory-smooth finish.
Penetrol is the oil-based equivalent. It penetrates deeply into the substrate, improving adhesion and preventing peeling on exterior surfaces exposed to harsh moisture. It is particularly effective for conditioning coatings applied to cedar or other natural woods common in Portland.
The Science of the Wet Edge
The "wet edge" is the time a painter has to work with a coating before it begins to set. In high-heat or low-humidity conditions, paint can dry too fast, leaving "lap marks" where one stroke meets another. Additives extend this wet edge, giving our craftsmen more time to ensure a perfectly level and integrated surface. This is one of the many reasons why ACGI paint jobs look superior even decade later.
