The opacity of the paint determines the paint’s ability to absolutely diminish/hide the color of the surface. To test this parameter, the paint is applied to a shiny opacity surface.
From The Manufacturer of Acrylic Paint Plant Machinery – Everything You Must Know Acrylic Emulsion Paints
Acrylic emulsion paints are among the most preferred choices for interior and exterior walls. Not just that, these paints also find applications on canvas, furniture, and many other surfaces. These paints are water-based and comprise pigments, coagulants, and emulsifiers in addition to water. The emulsifiers emulsify the dispersed pigments in water, which is why these paints are popularly known as emulsion paints. These paints are predominantly used by the population and hence produced in tremendous quantities by acrylic paint manufacturers.
It is good to know that the market size of Acrylic Emulsions is expanding at a significant rate. It is expected to reach $15.5 Billion by 2030 from $8.12 Billion in 2021, suggesting a substantial CAGR of 7.5% between 2021-2030.
As a leading acrylic paint plant manufacturer , UEC provides high-performance acrylic paint plant machinery to manufacturers across the world. With a rise in the demand for these paints, the need for manufacturing plants is accelerating too. This is why we are developing steadfast, high-quality, and accuracy-driven paint manufacturing plants and machinery on an extensive level.
Let us now know in-depth about acrylic emulsion paints and comprehend their manufacturing.
Key Features of Acrylic Emulsion Paints
Unlike oil-based paints, acrylic emulsion paints work as a better solution for interior and exterior surfaces. A majority of homeowners find these paints a suitable and efficient option for their homes as it offers the following characteristics/benefits.
Acrylic emulsion paints lend high durability and a long-lasting finish to the surfaces. The cross-linking polymers in these paints make the applied layer strong and non-porous, resulting in a long-standing paint. This is why most homeowners prefer them for both interior and exterior walls.
In addition to offering durability, these paints are also resistant to mildew and molds. Hence, this way they become an ideal paint for bathrooms, kitchens, garden areas, and other spaces where moisture can develop.
Emulsion paints are easy to clean. Any stains on the surfaces can be removed with easy washing, giving a whole new appearance to the surface.
When acrylic paints are developed in paint plant machinery , low levels of VOC or Volatile Organic Compounds are used. Hence, these paints do not emit too many chemicals when applied to the surfaces. Less chemical emittance means less odor or fumes, hence the most suitable choice for those overly sensitive to paint’s odor.
When used specifically on furniture or decorative assets, acrylic paint can come up with a good shine and a wonderful finish. Besides, these paints come in two varieties, one for exteriors and the other for interiors. The exterior paint gives a high level of shine to the walls and comes in gloss and semi-gloss ranges. The interior paint, on the other hand, comes in gloss, semi-gloss, velvet, and other touches, enlivening the interior walls, ceiling, and furniture.
Raw Materials to Manufacture Acrylic Emulsion Paints
As read above, in the process of acrylic paints, manufacturers make use of 4 main ingredients. Let us understand these raw materials below.
Pigment refers to the color element of the paint, i.e., it defines the final hue of the paint. This pigment can be both organic and inorganic.
It refers to that substance in the paint’s composition that clusters small particles and ultimately forms the drops of paint.
Emulsifier is the binding agent in paints. It binds the pigment/color to the water so that the color distributes properly in the mixture, and a well-blended paint can be created.
Water is used to mix all the contents/ingredients together to develop an effective paint.
The Binder
Because pigment is a dry powder that does not adhere to canvas all on its own, it must be stuck to the canvas with a binder. The binder also prevents the powdery pigment from clumping.
The binder used to make acrylic paints is an acrylic polymer emulsion. Acrylic resins are a type of plastic. An emulsion occurs when droplets of one liquid are evenly dispersed and suspended (rather than dissolved) in another liquid. In this case, the emulsion is formed by tiny acrylic resin spheres suspended in water.
Acrylic paint can be considered a latex product, because latex is defined as an emulsion of polymer microparticles in water as opposed to solvent. Note, however, that the term “latex paint” is typically used to refer to house paint, which is a lower quality of paint. Unlike artist’s paints that retain their flexibility after they dry, house paints grow brittle with age and are thus not typically used to create long-lasting works of art.
The acrylic resin is largely responsible for the overall quality of the paint, while the pigment is responsible for the quality of the color. The quality of the binder will determine how the paint handles, how long it will take to dry, and how well it will resist cracking and UV-related deterioration as it ages.
Acrylic binder appears more or less white when wet. However, it becomes clear as it dries, and this is why acrylic paints often appear to darken as they dry. High-quality paints will use binders that are more clear in appearance, minimizing the darkening effect.
The Pigment
Once the acrylic resin emulsion is prepared, pigments are added. Pigments come in three flavors:
- Synthetic. Most acrylic paints are made with inexpensive synthetic pigments.
- Inorganic. Mineral-based. An example is raw sienna, which is made from iron oxide.
- Organic. Derived from plant and animal materials. These have largely been replaced by synthetic pigments, although some pigments synthesized from coal tar and petrochemicals are considered “organic.”
Before being mixed with the binder, pigments must be milled to break up any clumps. Clumps cannot be evenly wet and emulsified. Once the pigment has been milled, it is then stirred into the binder.
The quality of the pigment determines not only how the color immediately appears to the eye, but also how well it will resist fading over the years. The pigment is the determining factor in the cost of the paint, as the binder is quite inexpensive to produce. Artist-quality paints use high-quality pigments, while student-quality paints offer an economy solution. Any given brand may further distinguish between grades of artist- or student-quality paints by numbering them (Series 1, Series 2, etc., or sometimes Series A, Series B, etc.) with higher numbers indicating higher quality.
While color names vary by brand, oftentimes the name of a color conveys information about the manufacturing process. For instance, the word hue after the name of the color, as in “cadmium red medium hue,” means that something similar in color to cadmium red was mixed with the cadmium red to keep the cost down. Hues are typically found in student-grade paint lines.
Why These Ingredients Matter
The combination of binder and pigment is what gives acrylic paints their unique properties. First off, acrylic paints dry by evaporation. As the water evaporates from the emulsion, the acrylic resin spheres draw closer together in a honeycomb pattern. Pigment is trapped in the open spaces between the acrylic resin spheres. The result is a flexible layer of paint, because the acrylic honeycomb can expand and contract with the canvas, thus preventing cracking and canvas tearing over time.
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Step 2. Experimentation & formulation
The chemists get to work to turn the idea into reality. They draw on their decades of experience in acrylic technology and collaborate with materials suppliers to source the finest ingredients. A project can take anything from weeks to years to complete, depending on the brief and complexity. Acrylic Gouache took over two years to develop, to make sure it delivers intense pigmentation, high opacity and fluid viscosity across the range. When they have what they believe to be a perfect formula, the chemists put it to the test. A suite of in-house testing technologies is at their disposal – a restricted access room full of machines examining all aspects of the innovation, from light-fastness to opacity, stability and color intensity.
Once a new formulation is in process in the lab, it’s time to call in our in-house packaging technologists. They’re always looking to improve usability for you in the studio, so they work closely with our in-house artists to find the right format. For our Soft Body and Acrylic Gouache bottles, we asked a big group of artists to sketch out their dream packaging as our starting point, before playing with a range of shapes and materials. The technologists then commission prototypes and torture test them with artists to make sure they’re fit for purpose. Functionality is king here and we’re always looking to innovate. In 1980 we were the first company to change our tubes from pure metal to lightweight glaminate (a technology commonly used in the cosmetic industry) to stop the problem of tubes corroding and cracking with use. Liquitex packaging needs to stand the test of time. And the reality of life in the studio.
