Alkyd paints are simply remarkable for their performance characteristics and can be used both for internal finishing work and external. Such paintwork materials are not too expensive. They are convenient to use and form a durable film of saturated eye-pleasing color.
How to make
To begin with, let's deal with alkyd paint - what is it? Make paintwork of this variety by mixing special resins, a coloring pigment and a solvent. Refined kerosene, called white spirit, is usually used as the latter. Alkyd resins are a viscous product having a color from yellow to dark brown. They are obtained during the reaction of polyhydric alcohols and monobasic fatty acids in the presence of carboxylic acids.
In addition to these main components, special pixotropic and heat-polymer additives are often mixed in alkyd paints. Both are necessary to improve the performance of paintwork materials. Paints with pixotropic additives hold well on the surface and do not form sagging. When used, a layer of exactly the same uniform thickness is obtained. The use of heat-polymer additives reduces the drying time of alkyd paints.
Sometimes antimycotic components are also added to such coatings. This type of product is best suited for painting wooden surfaces.
The main advantages and disadvantages
So, alkyd paint - what is it, we have found out. The advantages of paintwork of this variety include in the first place:
the presence of water-repellent properties;
high film density;
- high degree of wear resistance;
resistance of the dried layer to mechanical damage;
resistance to household detergents of any varieties;
faster drying time than oil paints.
The disadvantages of this type of funds are considered primarily not a very high degree of environmental safety. When using this type of dye, you have to wear a respirator and open windows. Alkyd paintwork materials smell very harsh and unpleasant. The disadvantages of such paints are also considered not too rich colors. The richness of the shades they really do not differ. However, if desired, the color of such paint can be changed to taste on your own by buying a suitable color scheme. Another minus of alkyd coatings is fire hazard.
Scope of application
Alkyd enamel paint is used most often for finishing wooden or metal surfaces. Very good, this type of paintwork is suitable, for example, for painting window frames, doors and furniture. Also alkyd enamel is used for surface finishing of heating radiators. Since it is well tolerated with detergents, it can be used for painting, for example, walls in a kitchen or toilet. Very good, many varieties of such coatings are suitable for flooring.
Classification
At the moment, two main types of such paints are produced: glossy and matte. The first variety is most often used for processing metal products subject to corrosion. The advantages of glossy paint include the fact that it is less contaminated. The matte variety of alkyd coatings looks more modern and is better washed using household chemicals.
Marking
You can distinguish alkyd dyes from other types of coatings by the letters PF or GF applied to their labels. The first variety is made on a pentaphthalic basis, the second on glyphthalic. The figure following the marking characterizes such enamel quality as weather resistance. The unit says, for example, that the tool can be safely used on the street. Two means limited weather resistance.
Oil-alkyd products
Thus, the answer to the question of alkyd paint - what is it, you now know. This product is made on the basis of special resins. However, there is another variety of such coatings on sale - oil-alkyd. Dyes of this type are less popular than regular ones. But they are very inexpensive, and therefore often used as primers. For use in this capacity, they are simply bred with white spirit. Such coatings are used less often as the main finishing agent, since they dry very slowly, do not “breathe” and, over time, acquire a yellowish tint. Oil-alkyd paints are also marked with the letters GF and PF. In addition, on sale there are varieties of MA 021 (on natural varnish) and MA 025 (on artificial).
Enamels for the street
A good alkyd paint, issued by a well-known company, marked with the number 1 (first after the letters), for finishing products and structural elements of buildings can be used with great success. Such coatings are used, for example, for the design of doors and window frames outside the premises. Also, alkyd enamel, intended for the street, can be painted, for example, on the terrace floors, railings of stairs or balconies, walls of a wooden arbor or barn, etc. Such decoration will cost very little. Wooden products will take a beautiful neat look.
Among other things, alkyd paint for outdoor works is often used by public utilities to decorate garbage cans, children's swings, benches, ballot boxes, etc. Owners of country houses also use enamels of this variety to decorate street metal products: gates, fences, frames canopies etc.
Very often it is paintwork materials of this type that are also used for painting galvanized roofs. In this case, the answer to the question of whether alkyd or acrylic paint should be applied is not even worth the majority of owners of country houses. Despite the many advantages, under the hot rays of the sun and in conditions of constant temperature changes, acrylic lasts no more than 2-3 years. The alkyd layer will not require updating for many years.
Application technology
Painting with alkyd paint is as follows:
The surface is thoroughly cleaned of dirt and dust. Metal objects should be washed and dried. If the product to be painted has peeled old paint, it must be cleaned with a spatula.
A primer coat is applied to the surface. Of course, it is best to use an alkyd agent in this case.
The paint is evenly rubbed on the surface. To perform this operation, it is best to use a roller. Alkyd paints are quite viscous, and therefore the bristles of the brushes can remain in the applied layer.
Alkyd enamels are not recommended on hot surfaces (for example, functioning radiators). In this case, the paint dries too quickly and may become blistering. For a better effect and a longer service life, paintwork of this variety should be applied in two layers. The waiting period between operations is usually one day.
Reviews
Alkyd based paints are very popular in our country. These paintwork materials are used everywhere: in city apartments, at dachas, in offices, garages, workshops of enterprises, on city streets. The reviews they deserve are certainly good. This is especially true for such a variety of alkyd finishes as PF-115 enamel. Many people remember this paint from Soviet times. It was she who finished the wooden frames and cast-iron radiators in Soviet-built houses. This enamel was also used for coloring floors. Today, almost the same high-quality PF-115 is produced, used for the same purposes.
Alkyd paints have earned positive reviews, therefore, for the most part for the optimal combination of price and quality. Also, good opinion among consumers about them has developed due to their versatility. After all, if after staining any surface in the jar remains paint, you can simply cover it and hide it in the pantry. Surely after a while it will come in handy. That is, it will be used in full.
Not only ordinary owners of apartments and country houses speak very well about alkyd enamels. This type of paintwork is also appreciated by professional builders. Mainly for ease of application. Today, the lion's share of all paints used in construction is accounted for precisely alkyd.
Cost
The price of a product of this type depends on its variety, packaging and brand of the manufacturer. The most popular paint PF-115, for example, costs about 100-120 rubles. Owners of apartments and country houses most often use alkyd enamels, packaged in banks of 2-3 kg. In construction, 20 kg variants are also often used. Such a bucket costs about 2000-2500 rubles. The color of alkyd paint has almost no effect on its value.
Well, we hope that we have answered the question of the article in a rather detailed manner: “Alkyd paint - what is it?” As you can see, paintwork materials of this type actually differ in simply remarkable performance and operational characteristics. Universality, the ability to use both outdoors and indoors, ease of application - all this combined with low cost and makes alkyd paints so popular and popular.