Acrylic enamels: properties and scope

Acrylic enamel, widely used in everyday life and industrial production, is capable of making the surfaces resistant to moisture, high and low temperatures, and pests.

Enamel is a type of paintwork. Due to the acrylic base, the composition dries quickly, and also has a number of significant technical features (moisture resistance, strength).

Acrylic enamel allows you to protect the surface from the negative impact of the environment, which prolongs their life.In addition, the composition performs a decorative function - changes the shade of products, making them more attractive.

Acrylic enamel is a water-based organic composition that is why when it is applied to the surface and dried, the user does not feel the unpleasant smell characteristic of many paints.

The basis of acrylic enamel is made up of organic solvents (products of the petrochemical industry), pigments and acrylic resin. Last and causes high performance properties of enamel. While hardening, it forms on the surface a solid layer, impervious to moisture, carrying high and low temperatures, protecting the surface from the action of pests.

In addition, acrylic enamel contains siccativa (they are responsible for the rapid drying of the enamel layer and making it more reliable), modifiers, inhibitors, antiseptics (responsible for the biostability of coatings).

Dispersion enamel on acrylic base does not contain solvents, and therefore non-toxic. In addition, it "removes" excess moisture from the working base, which prevents the appearance of mold and mildew.

It is important to note the high lightfastness of the coating. Even with the active exposure to sunlight, painted surfaces do not fade and do not turn yellow. Thus, we can say that the composition has a protective and decorative purpose.

Acrylic enamel can have pronounced flame retardant characteristics. They are called organo-dilutable and contain graphite. The latter, under the influence of high temperatures, swells, forming a kind of fire-resistant "coat" that protects the surface from high temperatures and an open flame. Most often it is used to protect metal and steel products.

To increase the strength of the enamel layer, urethane is added to the composition. Such acrylic-urethane enamel is characterized by increased wear resistance, it is not afraid of exposure to moisture, petrochemical products, industrial gases, fats. Such mixtures are also odorless, dry quickly. They are mainly used in industrial facilities, engineering structures.

Technical characteristics of the material pleasantly surprised. These include:

• moisture resistance;
• heat resistance;
• resistance to high and low temperatures (-50 - + 60С);
• weather resistance;
• vapor permeability;
• approximate consumption of enamel - 130-200 g / m kV;
• elasticity, flexural strength;
• environmental friendliness.

The demand for the composition due to its advantages, Among the most significant are:

• Environmental friendliness. Enamel is suitable for interior work and even for painting rooms in children's institutions and hospitals.
• There is a wide temperature range of operation.
• The composition has a moisture resistance.
• The presence of antiseptic properties allows you to reliably protect the surface, primarily wood, from the appearance of mold, fungus, attacks of pests.
• Vapor permeability of the film. Due to this moisture comes out from the painted surfaces, without leading to rotting or formation of corrosion.
• The elasticity of the material provides not only resistance to temperature “jumps”, but also ease of application without smudges.

• Ability to choose the composition (glossy, matte, semi-matte), depending on the requirements of the surface in terms of appearance.
• Long service life (for wood - up to 8 years, for metal - up to 20 years).
• Efficiency of consumption is due to the ability to dilute the enamel with water.
• The versatility of its use makes it possible to paint with enamel both the facades of a building (or carry out other external works) and walls (or other elements) indoors.

Among the shortcomings.

1. Lack of color enamels. The composition is available only in white. However, with an abundance of colors, this problem can be easily solved. By adding the required amount of color to the perfectly white enamel, it is possible to obtain pure shades of the desired intensity.
2. It is unacceptable to store the composition at low temperatures, because it contains water. It will freeze, and after defrosting the enamel will lose its properties.
3. Although it is possible to touch painted surfaces in a few hours, a full set of strength is achieved only after 30 days.
4. The last "minus" of enamel is its high cost, as well as a large number of fakes and low-quality products on the market.

Surfaces coated with acrylic enamel can differ not only in color, but also in degree of gloss. It is worth noting,that the external characteristics do not affect the technical properties of the mixture.

Glossy and glossy white surfaces look elegant, but not suitable for uneven grounds. This is due to the fact that the glossy shine will attract attention to surface defects.

Matte enamel, on the contrary, will hide all the irregularities. She looks elegant and noble. The compositions have a beautiful appearance in the interior decoration, allow you to create interiors in soothing colors.

Glossy compounds are widely used for painting cars. It is important to properly care for the coating - polishing and updating it.

Intermediate option between glossy and matte enamels is semi-matte. It has a subtle glossy shine, but it looks quite neutral. Semi-gloss products have a little more gloss, but at the same time it is not as intense as that of glossy counterparts.

Select the individual parts of the working base (for example, accessories) allows pearl enamel. Thanks to its ability to refract light from different angles, the painted surface always looks new.This ability is due to the presence in the composition of the reflective powder pigment.

Using colors allows you to get both neutral and saturated colors. It is important to remember that bright enamels for interior decoration (red, beige, bright orange, blue, black) are appropriate in certain styles of interior, they should be combined with a more relaxed shade. Otherwise, the room will be uncomfortable.

Usually the manufacturer of the enamel indicates on the packaging, what can be diluted composition. As a rule, it is ordinary water, which must be given time to settle, or solvents. As the latter can be used white spirit.

Please note that water should not contain impurities and litter. The product diluted with water usually has a more liquid consistency, so when staining the drops can flow to the floor. It is recommended to immediately remove them, because after solidification it will be difficult to do.

Acrylic enamel has a wide range of applications. Quite often it is applied to metal surfaces. In this case, first they are coated with a primer, and after it dries - with acrylic enamel. At non-observance of technology of coloring in the put structure bubbles will appear, and the covering will serve not for long.

The main part of the car is painted with enamel with acrylic resins. The ability to transfer temperatures up to 120 ° C without loss of technical properties allows the use of enamel for radiators.

Water resistance, ease of care and resistance to mechanical damage make it possible to use the composition for finishing the kitchen, bathroom. Washable acrylic varieties are recommended for flooring.They tolerate regular wet cleaning, do not attract dust and pollution. For this reason, they are optimal for furniture. For plastic, select a universal mixture or a special compound for PVC surfaces.

It is important that a special acrylic enamel is selected for each type of surface and type of work. For example, for marking pavements, a special composition is used - enamel AK-511.

The identical composition of the AK-512 is also distinguished by its increased wear resistance, moisture resistance, and therefore is used in public institutions to design stops, entrances and other street facilities.

Today the market has a lot of domestic and imported enamels. Leading positions occupied by Dulux products. The quality of the original products is beyond doubt, and the diversity of the model range allows you to choose the optimal composition for a particular type of work. The disadvantage is the high cost.

If you are looking for a less expensive mixture for the house (where a relatively small operating load falls on the surface), pay attention to the compositions of the Kolorit trademark.

The enamel Sniezka Ultra Biel from the Polish brand boasts a special whiteness. Special fillers and suspensions make it possible to achieve a crystal white shade and keep it for several years of operation.

The enamel on acrylic base from the manufacturer "Lacra" enjoys the confidence of customers. It is optimal for interior work. A liter of product will be enough to paint 10 m2 on condition of single-layer application. However, users note that one layer is not enough - the composition lays down in stripes. But 2 layers for many surfaces is enough.

Not less popular is the mixture of "Halo". Users note good adhesion, opacity, ease of application. Even a few years later, the enamel does not turn yellow, the white shade is, indeed, white. The disadvantage is that universal enamel is not suitable for application to the floor surface.

If a multi-layer coating is intended, most users recommend Rainbow enamel.She lays well and dries a little less than 2 hours. This allows you to significantly speed up the process of staining. Buyers note that the bank is provided with detailed instructions. It is better to use a roller for applying the composition, as it is excessively thick for a brush.

For painting cars and other vehicles, Vika 2K AK-1301 and Duxone 2K compositions are recommended, characterized by ease of application, good hiding power and durability. It is important that after applying you can do without finishing polishing.

How to apply acrylic enamel, see the next video.