Acrylic enamels: properties and scope

Advantages and disadvantages

Acrylic enamel has advantages and disadvantages like any other finishing material.

To begin with, it is worth considering the positive qualities that are inherent in this paint and varnish coating.

Acrylic enamel is not afraid of adverse climatic conditions. She is not afraid of rain or sun rays.

• The film, which is formed on the basis of acrylic enamel, is distinguished by high vapor-permeable qualities. Thanks to this characteristic, moisture easily and quickly evaporates from the surface of the base. That is why such enamels are most often chosen for finishing wooden floors, for which contact with water is destructive.
• Acrylic enamel is flexible. This property ensures the preservation of the attractive appearance of the composition in conditions of temperature changes. Moreover, elastic coatings are not subject to cracking. Elastic acrylic enamel adheres very easily to any substrate. The application of such a paint-and-varnish coating is not difficult and does not take up a lot of free time.

• On the basis of acrylic enamel does not leave sloppy smudges, as it lays down evenly.
• With the help of such a paint and varnish mixture, even the darkest coating can be lightened.
• Acrylic enamel does not exude harsh chemical odors, so it is much easier to work with it than with conventional dye mixtures with a characteristic aroma.

• Acrylic-based enamel is very easy to achieve the desired consistency. To do this, the solution can not only be mixed with a solvent, but also add one or another color to the mixture.
• Acrylic enamels are fast drying. For example, when applied to wooden walls, such coatings dry in 2-3 hours.
• Such finishing materials boast a long service life. By applying them to the walls in your home, you will forget about the next repair for a long time, since they will not lose their attractive appearance and other performance characteristics.

There are no ideal finishing materials, and acrylic enamels are no exception. These paint mixtures have a number of disadvantages.

• Currently, there are a lot of fake enamels in stores that cannot boast of good quality and ease of application. For this reason, experts strongly recommend purchasing products manufactured by well-known companies. And remember: a low-quality formulation can give out too low a cost.
• If you need to apply acrylic enamel not in one, but in several layers, you will have to wait each time for the next layer to dry completely.

Acrylic enamel should not be stored at low temperatures. This is due to the fact that in the composition of such a paint and varnish mixture there is a water base that can freeze in the cold. Because of this, the entire composition can change its consistency and become unusable.

Manufacturers

Currently, there are a large number of large brands in the domestic and foreign markets that produce high-quality and beautiful acrylic-based enamel.

The most popular and demanded manufacturers, about whose products consumers leave positive reviews:

• "Prestige";
• "Expert";

• "Tex";
• "Halo";

• "Lacra";
• "Rainbow";

• Eco-suite;
• Novbytkhim.

The listed companies produce high-quality acrylic enamels that are durable and long-lasting. Most buyers were satisfied with the purchase of such finishing materials.

To learn how to paint a wooden door with acrylic enamel on your own, see the next video.

Advantages and disadvantages

The demand for the composition is due to its advantages, among the significant ones it is worth highlighting:

• Environmental friendliness. The enamel is suitable for interior work and even for painting premises in child care facilities and hospitals.
• There is a wide operating temperature range.
• The composition is moisture resistant.
• The presence of antiseptic properties allows you to reliably protect surfaces, especially wooden ones, from the appearance of mold, mildew, and pest attacks.
• Vapor permeability of the film. This allows moisture to escape from the painted surfaces without causing decay or corrosion.
• The elasticity of the material provides not only resistance to temperature "jumps", but also the ease of application without smudges.

• The choice of composition (glossy, matt, semi-matt) depending on the surface requirements in terms of appearance.
• Long service life (for wood - up to 8 years, for metal - up to 20 years).
• The economy of consumption is due to the ability to dilute the enamel with water.
• The versatility of use allows you to paint with enamel both the facades of the building (or carry out other external work), and walls (or other elements) inside the room.

Among the disadvantages.

1. Lack of colored enamels. The composition is available only in white. However, with an abundance of colors, this problem can be easily solved. By adding the required amount of color to a perfectly snow-white enamel, it is possible to obtain pure shades of the desired intensity.
2. It is unacceptable to store the composition at low temperatures, since water is present in it. It will freeze, and after thawing, the enamel will lose its properties.
3. Despite the fact that it is possible to touch the painted surfaces after a few hours, the full set of strength is achieved only after 30 days.
4. The last "disadvantage" of enamel is its high cost, as well as a large number of fakes and low-quality products on the market.

Types and characteristics

There are several varieties of acrylic enamels. Each of them has its own characteristics and features.

Dispersion

Acrylic water-dispersive enamels do not contain solvents, which indicates their environmental friendliness and non-toxicity. In addition, such paint and varnish coatings contribute to the rapid evaporation of excess moisture and moisture directly from the floors. Thanks to this property, fungus or mold does not appear on the walls.

Water-based enamels based on an acrylic binder boast increased light fastness. Even under the influence of aggressive sunlight, such finishing materials do not lose their color saturation and do not become yellow.

After the completion of all finishing works, the dispersion enamel is easily and quickly washed off from the tools and containers in which it was mixed.

Water-dispersion enamels practically do not smell, so they can be safely used for interior decoration. In addition, such mixtures dry quickly enough on different bases.

The water-dispersion mixture can be tinted as desired. Thus, you can get the enamel of the shade you like without any extra effort - just add a suitable color to the composition.

Fire retardant

Today, reliable fire retardant enamels with an acrylic base are very popular. Most often they are used to improve fire safety in private and public facilities.

There are solvent-borne enamels of this kind - they must be applied with extreme caution, especially when it comes to interior decoration.

Such enamels can be safely applied to various substrates. However, some manufacturers produce mixtures designed only for finishing steel and metal surfaces.

Such formulations under ordinary conditions are practically indistinguishable from ordinary ones. Under the influence of fire, they become completely different, since they contain special intumescent components:

• graphite (powder);
• antiprene;
• polymer varnish.

Water-based

Water-based acrylic enamels have good technical characteristics.

• They are not afraid of mechanical influences. In addition, such formulations do not suffer from exposure to sunlight.
• Water-based enamels are not afraid of moisture. Of course, in this case we are talking about high-quality compositions, and not their cheap fakes.
• The paints are environmentally friendly and safe.

Acrylic-urethane

Such building finishing materials are characterized by increased hardness and wear resistance. In addition, they are not afraid of:

• dampness and moisture;
• exposure to petroleum products;
• industrial gases;
• animal fats.

This odorless two-component enamel is most often used for finishing metal structures, as well as engineering and hydraulic structures and bridges. Acrylic-urethane mixtures have anti-corrosion properties.

Acrylate

Acrylate enamels consist of:

• water base and solvent;
• binding components;
• coalescent;
• thickener;
• antioxidant preservative;
• antifreeze.

The advantages of acrylate enamels include:

• environmental friendliness;
• the ability not to attract dust and dirt;
• Breathable structure;
• fast drying;
• the ability to clean and wash with a damp cloth;
• can be applied to any floors.

Such enamels are used both for interior decoration and for decoration of building facades.

Which one is better to choose?

To choose the right acrylic mixture, you should take into account the characteristics of the surface on which it will be applied.

Acrylic enamels are perfect for finishing wood substrates. The composition can be universal or water-based / water-dispersible.

• Acrylic enamel can also be selected for ordinary plastic. For this, it is quite permissible to use a universal or special mixture for PVC structures. As a rule, similar compositions are used for both interior and exterior decoration.
• For finishing the floor, it is recommended to purchase washable acrylic enamels that do not attract dust and dirt. Various pieces of furniture are often processed with similar compositions.

• If you need to finish radiators, then experts recommend using heat-resistant products designed for metal, concrete and brick structures. Also in stores you can find specialized formulations designed for radiators and heating systems.
• For kitchens and bathrooms, it is recommended to use high-quality water-dispersible enamels with antiseptic components. Such paints and varnishes will not suffer from increased levels of humidity in the room.

Shop for paints made by well-known and major brands. So you can save yourself from buying a low-quality product. You should not "chase" too low prices - they may indicate the fragility and weak strength characteristics of the finishing material.

Composition and properties

Acrylic enamel is a water-based solvent-borne compound, therefore, when applied to the surface and dries, the user does not feel the unpleasant odor characteristic of many paints and varnishes.

Acrylic enamel is based on organic solvents (petrochemical products), pigments and acrylic resin. The latter determines the high performance properties of the enamel. When solidified, it forms a solid layer on the surface that is impervious to moisture, tolerates high and low temperatures, and protects the surface from the action of pests.

In addition, acrylic enamel contains driers (they are responsible for the quick drying of the enamel layer and making it more reliable), modifiers, inhibitors, antiseptics (responsible for the biostability of the coatings).

Acrylic-based dispersion enamel does not contain solvents, and therefore is non-toxic. In addition, it "removes" excess moisture from the working base, which prevents the formation of mold and mildew.

It is important to note the high lightfastness of the coating. Even with active exposure to sunlight, the painted surfaces do not fade or turn yellow

Thus, we can say that the composition has a protective and decorative purpose.

Acrylic enamel can have pronounced fire retardant characteristics. They are called "solvent borne" and contain graphite. The latter swells under the influence of high temperatures, forming a kind of fire-resistant "coat" that protects the surface from high temperatures and open flames. Most often it is used to protect metal and steel products.

To increase the strength of the enamel layer, urethane is added to the composition. Such acrylic-urethane enamel is characterized by increased wear resistance, it is not afraid of the effects of moisture, petrochemical products, industrial gases, fats. Such mixtures are also odorless and dry quickly. They are mainly used in industrial facilities, engineering structures.

The technical characteristics of the material are pleasantly surprising. These include:

• moisture resistance;
• heat resistance;
• resistance to high and low temperatures (-50 - + 60C);
• weather resistance;
• vapor permeability;
• approximate consumption of enamel - 130-200 g / m2 kW;
• elasticity, bending strength;
• environmental friendliness.

Usage Tips

The enamel must be prepared prior to direct application to a flat surface of the substrate. There are two ways to dilute the mixture.

It is acceptable to use plain water

It is worth paying attention so that there are no unnecessary impurities and debris in it. After applying such a mixture to a particular base, it is necessary to immediately remove the dripping drops that have ended up on the floor.

When the composition is completely dry, it will be very problematic to remove traces of it from the floor covering.

The second method should be used when you plan to apply enamel with a spray gun. The paint and varnish composition can be diluted with a special thinner intended for acrylic mixtures. These components allow you to achieve the optimal consistency of the enamel.