| ABRASION RESISTANCE |
Resistance of a surface to mechanical abrasion. |
| ANTI-CORROSIVE PAINT |
A type of coating made with neutral or slightly alkaline pigments and a water resisting vehicle for use as a primer on steel and other metals to prevent or inhibit corrosion. |
| APPLICATION |
The principal methods of applying finishing materials are: brushing, spraying, dipping, roller coating and flowing. Applications can be described as follows: When the entire surface to be coated has been covered, an application has been made. When the same surface is re-coated, a second application has been made. Two or more applications may be considered as one coat if the normal drying time was not allowed between applications. |
| BASE |
A term having several meanings, according to the context: In coating materials manufacture, an original concentrated mixture of materials to which other ingredients are added to make a finished product. |
| BATCH |
The quantity produced in one complete operation. |
| BLENDING |
When two materials are blended together they are homogeneously mixed. |
| BLASTING |
The process whereby an abrasive media is directed onto a substrate to clean up the surface and create a roughness profile ready to accept a coating. |
| BOND COAT |
Is commonly known as a primer. A coating used to improve the adherence of succeeding coats. |
| BUILDING COAT |
A finishing material, usually of a transparent nature, which is used over the primer or color coats and under the finishing coats to increase the thickness of the finished material. |
| CERAMIC COATING |
Ceramic coatings in the form of inorganic base sol-gel, form a very thin layer of 35 µ ± 5 yet a very hard (9H Pencil hardness) surface. Ceramic, by nature, is an excellent conductor of heat. |
| CHEMICAL RESISTANCE |
Resistant to chemical or solvent attack, giving the substrate protection against chemicals or solvents that would ordinarily attack it. |
| CONDUCTIVE COATING |
This is where the coating allows electrical charges such as static to run across its surface to an earthing point. Achieved by the addition of carbon or metal particles. Usually more accurate to say "static dissipative". |
| CORROSION RESISTANCE |
Tends to be used interchangeably with chemical resistance but is specific to preventing corrosion of the substrate. |
| COAT |
When used as a verb, "coat" means to cover or apply; as a noun, the word signifies the amount of finishing material applied to a surface during one or more applications without a drying period between applications. |
| CORROSION |
The electrochemical degradation of metal or alloys due to reaction with their environment, which is accelerated by the presence of acids or bases. A paint coating is often applied to a surface to protect it from corrosion, oxidation or other types of deterioration. |
| DILUTENT |
A non-solvent liquid that is blended with an active solvent to obtain certain properties, such as reduced viscosity, in a finishing material. |
| DIRTY |
Term to describe coatings when they are not clean or contain foreign matter, usually of a finely divided solid nature. This term can also be applied to describing colors whereby a "dirty color" is one that is muddy or not clear and bright. |
| ELASTICITY |
The property of a film that allows it to stretch or otherwise change size or shape and return to its original condition without breaking or rupturing. This term should not be confused with "toughness," "tensile strength" or "elongation," which have different meanings. |
| ETFE |
Ethylene TriFluoroEthylene. A chemical resistant fluoropolymer. |
| ECTFE |
EthyleneChloroTriFluoroEthylene. A chemical resistant fluoropolymer with excellent electrical insulation and impact properties. |
| EC 1935/2004 |
European Union regulation that covers food contact safe coatings for use within the European Union. |
| FDA |
Food and Drug Administration (USA). This American authority does not provide any regulation for direct food contact of fluoropolymer coated parts for Europe. FDA compliance is used though as shorthand for a coating being food contact safe. |
| FEP |
FluoroEthylenePropylene. A melt-processable thermoplastic fluoropolymer with limited temperature resistance. Generally very good for food non-stick. |
| F-LON® |
Fluorocarbon Surface Technologies brand name for our Coatings and Surface Technology. |
| FLAME SPRAY |
A process whereby metals or ceramics are sprayed onto the substrate in such a way as to give a porous structure and increased abrasion resistance, thus allowing a subsequent polymer top coat to soak into it. |
| FLUOROPOLYMER |
A polymer that contains a Fluorine atom - the F in PTFE for example. |
| FLAT |
When referring to a coating, this means having no gloss or shine. |
| FLOW COAT |
A coat of finishing material applied to in the form of a powder that when heated flows in the form of a gel to give full and even coating thickness to the substrate. |
| HALAR® |
A trade name for ECTFE. |
| HUMIDITY |
The amount of water vapor in the air. Also, see "RELATIVE HUMIDITY." |
| HYDROPHOBIC |
None or minimal wetting of a surface by water. |
| HYBRID COATING |
Some polymer coatings benefit from (and in some cases, need) a metal or ceramic base layer on top of the part to be coated. Usually applied by the arc spray or flame spray method, this plasma layer will at the least provide an enhanced surface profile for the polymer to bond to. In some cases, the plasma layer will improve the lifespan of the polymer by reducing wear or fatigue. |
| INCOMPATIBLE |
For coatings, this denotes items that are not capable of being mixed together without impairing the original properties of the materials being mixed. This usually results in a separation of solid particles, cloudiness or turbidity. |
| IRON MILL |
A paint mill consisting of a corrugated steel disc that revolves tightly against a stationary steel base. As the pigment particles pass between these moving steel parts, they are subdivided and wet by the grinding medium. |
| IRON OXIDE |
A red, brown or yellow pigment consisting of the oxides of iron used in paint form as a primer/corrosion resistant base coat. |
| LIGHT FASTNESS |
The ability of a color or of a dried film to remain unchanged when exposed to brilliant light. See Ultra violet. |
| LOW FRICTION |
The property of the coating that reduces the coefficient of friction between the coated substrate and the product running over it. Not the same as non-stick as it is possible to have a high friction coating with specific non-stick properties. |
| MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET (MSDS) |
A document that states specific properties, safety considerations, and handling suggestions for a designated material (such as a chemical) MSDS are required for health and safety considerations. |
| MISTCOAT |
A coat of thinner or thinner mixed with a small amount of lacquer that is applied as a final coat to increase smoothness. |
| NATURAL COLOURS |
Inorganic pigments derived from natural sources rather than manufactured or synthetic pigments. |
| NEUTRAL |
Neither acid nor alkaline, therefore, not reactive in a chemical sense. |
| NON STICK |
None or minimal wetting of a surface by oil (oleophobic), fat or water (hydrophobic) containing material. This prevents the sticking of a product during its processing. |
| OLEOPHOBIC |
None or minimal wetting of a surface by oil. |
| OPACITY |
The degree of obstruction of the transmission of visible light. |
| OXIDIZE (Oxidation) |
To chemically unite with oxygen. (Such as rusting of carbon steel surfaces) |
| PFA |
PerFluoroAlkoxy. A melt-processable thermoplastic fluoropolymer with generally very good corrosion resistance. With excellent non-stick and chemical resistant properties. |
| PIGMENT |
The fine, solid particles used for color or other properties in the manufacture of paint and enamel. |
| PLASMA COATING |
Metal or Ceramic base layer applied often as part of a hard wearing coating system. |
| PLASTICITY |
Plastic materials hold their shape under normal conditions but are deformed when heat, pressure or abnormal conditions are applied. The ability to flow under stress without ripping or tearing. |
| PTFE |
PolyTetraFluoroEthylene. The "original" fluoropolymer coating with generally excellent non-stick and temperature stability. |
| POROUS |
This describes material that is not dense, it has small voids or holes that absorb topcoats of finishing material or can allow chemicals to permeate through to the substrate causing corrosion. |
| PROTECTIVE COATING |
Any coating that protects the surface from deterioration. |
| PURITY |
This term describes a material or product that has no additives. |
| RAW MATERIALS |
These are the natural, untreated or unprocessed materials from which coatings are made. |
| RELATIVE HUMIDITY |
This is the percentage of water vapor in air at a given temperature as compared to the total amount of water vapor the air could hold at that temperature, expressed as a percentage. |
| SATIN FINISH |
This describes a finish similar to that of satin and having between a semi-gloss and a full gloss. |
| SEMI-GLOSS |
A finish midway between a full gloss and a dead flat. |
| SETTLING |
The separation of a pigment or other solid ingredient from a coating material upon standing. |
| SOLID COVERING |
Having the ability to obscure the underneath surface in one coat. |
| SOLUBLE |
Able to be dissolved in a liquid. |
| SOLVENT |
A liquid substance that is capable of dissolving or dispersing other substances. |
| SPECIFIC GRAVITY |
The ratio of the weight of a given volume of a substance to the weight of an equal volume of distilled water at a temperature of 62°F |
| SURFACE |
The outside or exterior boundary of any substance. |
| SYNTHETIC |
Describes any item that is prepared artificially or chemically rather than occurring naturally. |
| TEFLON® |
The trade name of Chemours fluoropolymer coatings. |
| TEFZEL® |
The Chemours trade name for their ETFE. |
| THERMAL SPRAY |
The family name for the spray application of metals and ceramics. |
| TENSILE STRENGTH |
The ability of a film to withstand pulling stresses. |
| THERMOPLASTIC |
A high molecular weight polymer that softens when exposed to heat and returns to its original condition when cooled to room temperature. |
| TRANSFER EFFICIENCY |
The measure of transfer of a coating from the application source to the substrate. The higher the value the more efficient the transfer. |
| ULTRA-VIOLET |
Those light rays, outside the visible spectrum at its violet end, that have a chemical effect upon the dried films of finishing materials. |
| VISCOSITY |
The resistance to flowing exhibited by fluids as well as the internal friction of the movement of molecules against each other. |
| VOLATILE THINNER |
That liquid portion of a coating material that reduces the consistency for application and evaporates from the film completely. |
| WASH COAT |
A thin solution of lacquer or other material applied over a stain to enrich it and to stiffen the fibers of the wood so they can be easily sanded. In special cases, a wash coat is applied to the bare wood to prevent succeeding coats from discoloring it or to enable a glaze to be wiped off easily. |
| WATER COLORS |
Colors mixed with or ground in water. |
| WEATHER RESISTANT |
Capable of withstanding exposure to the weather. |
| WETTING AGENTS |
Products that are added to protective coatings to aid the dispersion of the pigment in the vehicle, the penetration of the coating into the surface being treated, and for similar purposes. |
| XYLAN® |
The trade name of Whitford Plastics fluoropolymer coatings. |
| ZINC CHROMATE |
A bright yellow pigment that is used to a considerable extent as a rust inhibitor in metallic primers and in similar coatings. |
