Formulation

Quite often it is very difficult to totally distinguish between different types of paint in terms of their formulation. The main types of paint found in the decorative paint industry are :

Water based

Commonly known as emulsions, generally used on walls and ceilings.

Solvent (or oil) based

Normally based on alkyd resins, generally used on doors, frames, window frames, etc. Sometimes used externally on render

Acrylated Rubber

Sometimes white spirit based or xylene based. Chemical resistant paints used in swimming pools, industrial plants and extreme environments.

Epoxies

Most often two packs and very hard. Used as heavy duty floor paints but also in industrial plants and extreme environments where impact/abrasion resistance is a key requirement

If you are in any doubt, please contact the Technical Advice Centre who will arrange for your local Specifier Account Manager to perform the tests on your behalf. For further information on the different types of paint, please see What is Paint? in the Paint Clinic.

Here are some simple tests to distinguish between the different types of paint.

Water based or Solvent based?

Water based paints are generally softened and eventually removed by methylated spirits or alcohols. Clean the surface with soapy water to remove surface contaminants, dirt, grease, etc. Rub the surface with a cloth dampened with meths and if the paint is removed, it is very likely that it is water based. If it is not removed, the surface is either solvent based, acrylated rubber or epoxy.

Solvent based or Acrylated Rubber?

Clean the surface with soapy water to remove surface contaminants, dirt, grease, etc. Using and Acrylated Rubber Thinner or Solvent, gently wipe the surface with a cloth. If the paint reacts violently (similar to the reaction with paint stripper) then it is likely that the coating is solvent based. If the paint is simply softened and rubs off, then the coating could be an acrylated rubber as these types of paints are non-convertible coatings and are softened by their own solvents.

NOTE : Aged alkyd based paints sometimes do not react violently as explained above. If you are in any doubt, please contact your local Specifier Account Manager who can perform the tests on your behalf.

Acrylated Rubber or Epoxy?

Clean the surface with soapy water to remove surface contaminants, dirt, grease, etc. If all the above tests fail and the surface is very hard and difficult to abrade, it is likely that the coating is an epoxy as these are the hardest, most chemical/solvent resistant types of paints on the market.