5/25/2019 Contrast Equipment | Glossary of Paint Defect Terms

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This defect is found in spray applications where there is heavy application of paint on the outside of the or email or call us.
spray pattern with little paint in the canter of the fan. Email:
The cause can be: Contrast@Contrastequipment.com
Too much air pressure Call: 800-280-2412
Uneven lapping of the spray gun Hours: Mon-Fri, 8 am – 4:30 pm
Having the gun too close to the job
The remedy may be found from:
Use at correct air pressure
Ensure that the overlap of each stroke is 50% over the previous coat Quick Links
Hold gun at the correct distance from the job - about 15 cm for lacquers and 25 cm for enamels. To » Spray Guns
correct a coat that has been applied, re-coat with double coat using thinner that has been specifically
» Powder Spray Finishing
recommended for the paint using indicated solvent ratio and pressure, and ensuring that the gun is
» Wood Spray Finishing
held at the correct distance.
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» Sealant, Adhesive & Hotmelt
Bleeding
» Sanitary Pumping & Metering
This is the migration of the color from a previous coat into the freshly applied top coat. This defect
» Fiberglass & Gelcoating
usually occurs when a light color is applied over a dark color, particularly reds and maroons which are
prepared by using organic pigments not resistant to solvents or application over a surface » Complete Systems

contaminated with bitumen where the solvents in the fresh paint dissolve the bitumen.
The remedy is:
Use a bleed sealer before application of the light color
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Wash the surface with mineral turps if it is contaminated with bitumen.

Blistering
This defect is the appearance of irregular blisters on the paint finish.
This defect can be caused by:
Not correctly cleaning substrate
Contamination of the brush, air gun, line etc.
Using wrong thinner or incorrect amount of thinners
Old paint surface
Excess film thickness
In timber finishes, not allowing the solvent, particularly paint removers, to evaporate before
repainting
This defect may be overcome by:
Cleaning all surfaces free of grease and allowing the solvent to evaporate.
Using recommended thinner at correct ratio.
In spray applications, inspect so that water does not build up in the traps, especially in humid
weather.
Check that the new paint is compatible with the old surface.
Do not apply paint films too quickly and allow solvents to evaporate before re-coating.

Blooming
This defect gives a bloom or white deposit, like the bloom on a grape or plum, after the paint has dried.
The cause is the rising of soluble fractions of the pigment rising to the surface on the paint's drying. The
remedy for spray paints is to rub the surface down.

Blushing
This is a white deposit appearing on the surface of lacquer films only. The defect is caused by painting
with lacquers in high humidity conditions where the water contained in the air condenses on the paint
film The remedy is not to paint in humid conditions or to add a strong, active solvent that may stop the
blushing.

Bronzing
This is a defect that was often observed on cars painted red or blue where after a period of time a
characteristic red tone developed on the paint surface. The cause was older types of pigments like
phthalocyanine or Prussian blues. The defect is not common with the pigments available today.

Chalking
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Chalking is the powdery deposit on the surface of the paint which dulls the gloss and appears after
exposure. This defect is usually associated with long exposures to sunlight and is a natural degradation
of the paint film. Some combinations and types of pigments and resins show more pronounced
chalking than others.

Checking
Checking is the appearance of wide splits with round edges that occur in the top coat. The cause is
usually due to the surface not being clean (could be old paint) or too high a film build or the materials
not being mixed properly. The remedy is to remove the old paint, cleaning the surface and mixing the
paint ingredients properly.

Cracking or Crazing
This defect is a series of irregular cracks in the surface of the paint.
The cause of this defect can be:
Application of the top coat before the previous coat is dried
Too thick of a top coat
Impurities on the surface or the effect of impurities on the applied coat.
The remedy is the let the intermediate coats dry before the top coat is applied, clean the surface well,
remove the previous coat or ensure that the top coat is not applied too thickly.

Dirt Retention
This is the deposition of dirt and dust on the paint film. For certain types of paint, the dirt may become
entrained into the surface. The paints that resist dirt retention are high-gloss enamels while the low
gloss latexes are the most susceptible to this defect.

Fading
Fading is the decrease in the intensity of the color after exposure. It should be tested for after removal
of any chalking that may have occurred as this will tend to mask the actual fade of the pigment. In
general organic pigments, especially those of low cost, will fade more than pigments that are inorganic.
More expensive coatings especially prepared for exterior exposure will resist fading more than less
expensive paints.

Fish Eye
This defect is indicated by small round imperfections in the top coat. The defect is caused by traces of
silicone or oil on the surface prior to painting. The remedy is to thoroughly clean the surface and if
spray painting, to ensure that there is an oil filter on the air line.

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Flaking
Flaking is the lifting of small-to-large sections of the paint and is due to poor adhesion and to the
brittleness of the paint. The causes can be varied, for example the defect could be caused by
efflorescence or the migration of soluble salts to the paint-media interface which can cause the paint to
be forced off the surface. The paint may react with moisture and any traces of alkali to decompose the
paint - this is called saponification. It may be due to failure to remove millscale from the steel before
painting.

Floatation and Flooding

Floatation or floating occurs when a paint has been incorrectly formulated with two or more different
colored pigments when one of the pigments floats to the surface giving different differences. On close
examination the surface appears mottled with regular shaped cells.
Flooding is similar to floatation in that one of the pigments migrates to the surface when the paint is
produced using two pigments with different densities.These defects are corrected mainly by better paint
formulation.

Gassing
This is the formation of a gas, usually by hydrogen, by the reaction of reactive pigments, like Zinc and
Aluminum, with acidic materials in the resin. It can be overcome by better formulation or packaging the
paint separate from the pigment and mixing the ingredients prior to application.

Mould
The growth of mould on a paint film causes severe discoloration. Mould is a plant growth that requires
moisture, the presence of food and the correct temperature for growth. The defect can occur on most
types of paint but is most prevalent in bathrooms, kitchens and exterior walls that are in shady
positions. The paints that are most susceptible are soft oil-based paints or varnishes and emulsions,
especially if they are low gloss where dirt can be trapped in the film.
Often the mould growth can be killed and color removed by washing with dilute sodium hypochlorite
solution taking due care as this preparation is alkaline. Safety glasses and gloves have to be worn.
Before repainting, susceptible surfaces should be prepared with anti-mould preparations, like sodium
pentachlorophenate and by using either paints prepared with mould inhibiting pigments, like Zinc oxide,
or by using high gloss finishes. In extreme cases it may be necessary to remove the high humidity in
the room by using exhaust fans.

Orange Peel
This defect gives the paint finish the rough appearance similar to the outside of an orange. The defect
is found in spray painting and is generally due to having the wrong solvent. It can also be due to an
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incorrectly adjusted spray gun.The solution is to use the manufacturers recommended thinner and to
adjust and use the gun correctly.

Peeling
Peeling is simply another type of flaking where the amount of paint film removed is greater.

Pinholing
The defect is the appearance of small holes in dried paint film. The problem is most probably caused
by too thick a coat trapping solvents into the film, or by air bubbles. The defect may be due to not
cleaning the surface before painting, using the wrong solvents in spray painting or incorrect air
pressure. The problem can be solved by addressing the above causes.

Poor Flow
Poor flow can manifest itself in two ways: if the paint is too thick and will not flow out this will show up
as a rough surface or orange peel where the surface resembles the skin of an orange; if the paint flows
too much the result will be runs, sags and wave formation. This defect is remedied by proper
formulation and when thinning the paint to use the right solvent and the correct amount.

Poor Hiding or Lack of Opacity

Opacity is the ability of a paint film, when applied to a given surface, to hide or obliterate the surface or
the undercoat. Poor hiding power can be due to too thin a coat being applied or to the formulation using
a poor quality pigment.

Runs and Sags

As the name suggests this is the formulation of runs or sages on the finished paint film.
The defect can be caused by a number of things:
Too thick of a film.
Too much thinners.
Not allowing the first coat to dry before applying the top coat.

Settling
This is the separation of the pigments and occurs to a certain extent in all paints. It becomes a serious
defect when the pigment is difficult to reincorporate into the paint by stirring.
The defect occurs due to the high densities of some pigments and can be accelerated by a drop in
viscosity, the paint being stored at high ambient temperatures or by being subjected to vibration for
example on long transportation by rail.

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The control of settling lies in selection of suitable pigments and the addition of additives that increase
the viscosity of the paint.

Slow Drying
Slow drying occurs when the paint remains tacky for an extended period of time. This will result in the
film picking up insects or dirt before it is hard and will make repainting difficult.
The main causes are:
Too thick of an application of the paint when using air-drying paints. As these paints require oxygen
to penetrate the film to produce dying, if the film is too thick oxygen will not penetrate.
The viscosity of the paint is too high for the application. This can occur in cold weather and can be
overcome by reducing the viscosity with the recommended thinners for the paint.
The paint was applied at too cold a temperature. This will cause the chemical reaction that takes
place to cause the film to cure slowly.
High humidity due to rain or the like will reduce the evaporation of the solvent, the first step in
drying.
The surface to which the paint is applied is not clean and has traces of wax or paint removed on it.
The coat to which the paint is being applied has not dried when the next coat is applied.

Staining
Contamination of many surfaces with water, soot, smoke, tannins and tobacco can result in color
coming through the paint surface to cause stains. Stains caused by water will leave a tide mark and
after drying, the paint around the stain can be removed and the surface repainted. If the surface may
become damp again, remove the source of the water or paint with chlorinated rubber or a hard varnish.
Patches of soot or smoke should be removed before coating. Use of an insulating paint before the final
coat can help. Nicotine should be removed with an alkaline cleaner (bleach) before coating. Remember
to wash off all the alkali before attempting to paint.

Viscosity Drop
Low viscosities may be simply due to incomplete stirring or the addition of too much solvent. The
viscosity may decrease on standing in water-borne paints due to enzymic attack on the thickeners
used. Modern latex paints use thickeners that are not readily attacked by bacteria. Changes in the
orientation of the pigments (for example partial flocculation) may reduce the viscosity.

Wrinkling, Webbing, Frosting and Gas Checking

Wrinkling is the development of wrinkles in the paint film as it dries, usually due to the formation of a
skin. Defects similar to wrinkling are webbing, frosting and gas checking. Webbing is the development

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of wrinkles, usually in a well defined pattern and if it occurs in an oven it is called gas checking.
Frosting is the formation a haze which is due to fine wrinkles and it occurs in gas fired drying ovens.
The causes can be:
Due to the paint's being applied too thick, especially with high oil-length alkyds, varnishes with wood
oil and too much cobalt drier, enamels based on alkyd or phenolic resins with drying oils and black
enamels containing bitumen.
Stoving paints containing bitumen.
Frosting may be due to the products combustion in the oven reacting with the surface of the film or
may be due to high humidity.
Too much cobalt drier.
Sometimes the wrinkle pattern may be induced into the paint to produce films that will hide surface
defects.
Another type of defected related to wrinkling are crocodiling or alligatoring where the wrinkle pattern
resembles the hide of one of these reptiles.

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