Drying retarder for acrylic paints: application features

Hardeners for paints and varnishes - what is it

Paints can be composed of one or two components. They should have not only the appropriate colors, but also not crack for a long time and, preferably, quickly set and evaporate moisture. However, the latter factor is not always the case and needs to be helped to come true. For this, various substances are used to polymerize the components.

In order for the paint to quickly set and evaporate moisture, various substances are used to polymerize the components.

Purpose and features

Paint hardener is a chemical compound added to paint materials that converts paint into an insoluble and infusible product. By merging into the structure of the material, it endows it with stable properties.

There are several varieties of this material. Their number exceeds the number of solvents. With the right choice of additive, you can change the elasticity, strength of the paint and varnish material and even slightly modify the color.

The properties of the added component directly depend on its chemical composition. In most cases, the substance is used to add to resins, resulting in an epoxy adhesive. The peculiarity of the hardener in the conditions of its storage. It is not recommended to pour the substance into another container, since within a short time the hardener for enamel and not only loses its properties and becomes unusable.

After adding the additive to the paint, it should be used within a few hours.

How to dilute acrylic paint

Thickened acrylic paint can be thinned in several ways:

1. Since this dye contains water, it can be dissolved with the same liquid. But keep in mind that the water must be extremely clean and of high quality, without chemical impurities. To do this, the dried water-based paint must be diluted with water with a construction mixer in a separate container. If you intend to use the entire mixture, dilute directly in the jar. You need to add a little water to avoid making the paint too runny. If you have a rich base, then after dilution with water, the color will fade a little, so you will have to add a coloring pigment.
2. Special thinners-solvents for acrylic paint. A huge number of them are produced. The main advantage is improved coating properties and faster drying of the surface. In addition, solvents can impart a matte or glossy finish. The thinner is a clear liquid with a specific odor that quickly evaporates as the mixture dries.

Features of the use of water

Before thinning the acrylic paint with water, make sure that the aqueous liquid is clean. It should also be cold. Be sure to prepare a container for the experiment, in what ratio you need to dilute the paint.

The ratios can be as follows:

1. Option 1: 1 applies to the base layer. The paint is not too thick, lays down evenly, paints over as well as possible.
2. Option 1: 2 assumes a structure that does not flow and easily penetrates a brush or roller. The layer is thin and smooth.
3. Option 1: 5 has a liquid structure, in which the color is practically not preserved. In this case, you need to add a coloring pigment. This mixture is most often intended for painting curly and small items. It dries quickly but has to be applied in many coats.
4. Option 1:15 is more like regular water with a slight tint. Used to create a smooth color transition - a gradient effect.

Features of the use of diluents

Acrylic solvents vary in degree of drying:

• Fast speed is used in cold weather conditions. As you know, the low temperature does not allow the paint to quickly adhere to the surface. With the help of a diluent, this becomes possible.
• Average speed is considered universal. It is mainly used for interior work with normal temperature conditions.
• Low speed is used at elevated temperatures. If the water evaporates too quickly, then the paint will begin to lose its properties, which should not be allowed. A slow solvent will reduce the evaporation rate.

Follow the instructions for storage. Be sure to close the lid tightly and place the solvent container vertically. The room temperature should be cool.

Base of thinners based on paint composition

Thinners for acrylic paints are different based on the main active ingredient:

1. Solvent, gasoline and the like. Disappears quickly.
2. White Spirit. The evaporation rate is high.
3. Kerosene has an average volatility rate.
4. Turpentine evaporates slowly.

How to dilute acrylic paint if it is dry

If the paint has dried and hardened, then it will become impossible to soak it with water. To restore the consistency of acrylic, you must:

1. Take out the dry agglomerate, grind and grind it into powder.
2. Pour 1 part boiling water over the dispersed pigment, stir thoroughly. After the water has cooled down, pass the diluted emulsion through 2-3 layers of gauze.
3. Repeat the dilution with warm water until the desired consistency is obtained.

The hot method negatively affects the quality of the paint. If the original mixture is intended for painting, restoration or other artistic purposes, it should be reconstituted with special solvents.

Boiling water can be replaced with rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. In this case, the solvent does not need to be heated, and the lumps of paint must be thoroughly grinded.

Isopropyl alcohol is included in professional acrylic solvents, so it is suitable for achieving the desired paint thickness. Experienced modellers and artists recommend using a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and glycerin (the proportion is 25 ml per liter of alcohol).

Peculiarities

A retarder is called a thick gel-like mass without color (transparent). In the composition of such a mixture, glycol is present - a substance without a special odor, which helps moisture to linger longer in acrylic paints.

An indispensable retarder is considered in cases where it is necessary to work with a certain shade in order to obtain smooth transitions, to transfer all halftones, to denote feathering softer, and also to draw shadows. The drying time of acrylic paints depends on the volume of the added composition, which can take from 30 minutes to 5 hours.

When experimenting with the auxiliary material, it should be understood that the amount of retarder added has a different effect on the behavior and the corresponding consistency of the resulting mass.

Undiluted colors are highly viscous. This will allow you to create a different texture, give a clearer relief to the paint layer, and apply larger strokes. This coating will dry in 40 minutes. The diluted color scheme stretches perfectly after the brush. Drying time is 10 minutes.

Interesting: Hammer paint - what is it and how is it used?

How to choose?

The choice of paint begins with determining how it will be used: indoor, decorative or applied. The composition of the paint is of two types: organic and synthetic. Each of them is based on artificial resins. Dyes are used to create a coloring pigment. Artificial pigments appear in vibrant and rich color, while natural base in pastel colors.

As already mentioned, acrylic is a universal type of paints and varnishes. It can be used in any room. Acrylic dye is not afraid of moisture. You don't have to be a craftsman to gently cover any surface with it. First of all, buyers choose the material by color, then refer to the information about the purpose. It can be found on the packaging. Sometimes the paint is resistant, for ceilings, for facades or for interior work.

So, usually there are several types of acrylic paints:

• Wear-resistant paint is recommended for rooms with high humidity levels.
• Deep matt and matt paints are suitable for walls and ceilings in dry rooms. They hide small and insignificant irregularities, are easy to apply and are breathable. Before that, it is necessary to remove the whitewash from the ceiling.
• Glossy paint does not hide irregularities, visually enhances the texture.

The range of colors is wide. There is an opportunity to make the shade yourself; for this, colors are used. They interfere with the white and create the desired shade. Kohler is a concentrated paint. It can be thick and runny.

It is enough to observe the following points in order to mix the paint with the color correctly:

• carefully read the instructions and color card;
• use paint and color scheme from the same manufacturer;
• mix them in a separate container;
• you only need to mix the amount that you need to use for painting at the moment.

Outdoor paint is used to cover the facades of houses and other outdoor objects. There are two types of paint for facade works: water-based paint and based on organic compounds. The second is especially good for work at low temperatures in winter. It lays down evenly and dries quickly at negative temperatures. Acrylic paint has high wear resistance, high protection and strength, so it is suitable for concrete products. The paint protects concrete from weather and mechanical stress.

Acrylic-based coating is also chosen for wooden products. It has the following properties:

• resistance to changes in temperature and moisture;
• wear resistance does not allow cracks to form on the wooden floor;
• retains color for ten years;
• vapor permeability is inherent in it;
• dries quickly;
• easy to use;
• no need to peel off the old coat to apply a new coat of paint.

Artists and designers use acrylic to paint furniture, create patterns on glass, designs on fabric, and for painting. There is acrylic for children's creativity - this paint is brighter and is easily erased. It is non-toxic and is stored in plastic jars. There are also paints that have special properties, such as glow in the dark, fluorescent and pearlescent.

Decorative paint is available in jars and tubes. Both forms of storage are convenient to use. Tubes can be purchased individually. It is worth noting that paint cans and tubes come in different sizes. Acrylic paints on fabrics are distinguished by their elastic properties. When heated with an iron, they acquire a plastic structure and penetrate into the fabric. After dyeing, it is recommended to wash the clothes in the hand wash mode.

Acrylic nail paint is also stored in jars and tubes. The material in the jars is needed to create the pattern with a brush or other tools. If necessary, the paint can be diluted with water. Thanks to the narrow spout at the end of the tube, paints are ready for use right away. Tubes can also be purchased per piece.

HOW TO REPLACE THE BRANDED ACRYLIC THINNER

Foreword:

Most modern acrylic paints are water thinnable.

But the introduction of only water into the paint is accompanied by a rather rapid decrease in viscosity.

The best results are observed when the paint is diluted with a weakening varnish or its mixture with water.

For example, with the introduction of 10-15% varnish-weakening (diluted by 10-15% with distilled water of acrylic water-based varnish), the viscosity of paints changes slowly, there is no change in the shade of the paint, but resistance to abrasion and scraping, resistance to fats, paraffin and others substances higher than when using only water as a diluent.

are an additional incentive to use a softener varnish).

Now the specifics:

Most commercial acrylic THINNERS do not consist of a pure substance, but at least two components: a thinner and a retarder. Sometimes a third component is also present: a pigment binder (varnish).

Theirs THINNER for acrylic paint is a 60-65% solution of isopropyl alcohol in distilled water containing about 7% propylene glycol.

Here the solvent is isopropyl alcohol and the retarder is propylene glycol. The retarder is needed so that the composition does not dry out too quickly, it slows down evaporation, and at the same time improves the spreading of the paint. If it were not for it, the paint would have dried in the airbrush, and even lumped.

If the goal is to make an analogue of a standard branded THINNER for acrylic, propylene glycol can be replaced, for example, with glycerin. The result will be the same

It should also be noted that commercial solvents for indoor use most often use non-toxic (slightly toxic) substances.

Acrylic thinner, consisting of a 60% solution of (poisonous) methyl alcohol with the addition of (also poisonous) ethylene glycol, would work just as well (even better), but using it in work is a sure way to blindness.

At worst, instead of propylene glycol, you can use ethylene glycol (it is contained in the brake fluid), but this is not recommended - it is better to find glycerin.

I have already said that the active ingredient in acrylic solvent is isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol).

So, in any case, do not use pure 96% isopropanol as a solvent.

Not only does it evaporate in seconds, it dissolves ANY paints many times more effectively.

With a little pressure, isopropanol washes off nitro enamels (which are in cans) after several days of drying, easily removes ordinary enamels and any acrylic paints.

Only 2-component paints with hardener after complete polymerization are resistant to absolute isopropanol.

Compositions

The additive, which promotes delayed drying, is easily mixed in a ratio of 1: 4. During the manufacture of the composition, no foam or bubbles are formed. The layers applied with a palette knife (a special spatula) practically do not differ in their pastiness from the color scheme without additives, so this tool will become much more mobile during operation. Complete drying takes place in 3 hours.

By increasing the amount of auxiliary material by exactly half (with a ratio of retarder and acrylic material 1: 2), it becomes possible to create an texture, and you can also start working with a palette knife. In this case, the structure will be soft and streamlined in relief. During mixing, small bubbles may appear. A thin layer of this diluted color dries up in 3 hours.

This acrylic material spreads easily. Drying time is one hour.

Proportional mixing

When proportionally combining acrylic color with a retarder in a mixing ratio of 1: 1, a jelly-like mixture is obtained. The process itself is rather complicated. This composition is not suitable for a palette knife, but it will be easy to work with a brush due to the resulting jelly-like composition, creating free sliding along the canvas. The paint dries in 2 hours.

Additives

Various auxiliary materials add special properties to common acrylic paints.Colors become transparent, liquid or thick, matte, glossy or opaque.

For versatility, acrylic colors are diluted with several separate additives at once. For example, a retarder is considered indispensable when you need to carefully work out colors.

What can replace the hardener

What a hardener is needed for is more or less clear. But is it possible to replace it in the absence of such and, if urgently needed? Some types of hardener cannot be prepared at home, but at home you can make an analogue of a desiccant for oily bases.

You will need a metal canister in which you need to put 50 grams of rosin. Melt it at a temperature of 250 degrees. During the melting process, the rosin is constantly stirred. Then add a small amount of slaked lime (to the completely melted rosin) and heat for a few more minutes until a transparent product with a homogeneous structure is obtained.

In a domestic environment, you can make an analogue of a desiccant for oily bases.

The hardener seems to be an insignificant, but sometimes very necessary thing. The main thing is to comply with the conditions for selection and proportions indicated by the manufacturer. Otherwise, after some time, the painted surface will lose its presentable appearance and become covered with cracks.

Comparison with oil paints

Acrylic paints, like oil paints, are a covering material. They are applied to the surface in a similar way and have many similarities when mixing different colors with each other. However, despite their similarities, they have many differences.

Acrylic dries faster, as water evaporates more easily and more intensely than oil paints, which can dry from several days to several weeks. It is insensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, as well as to the amount of sunlight. Acrylic paints are much stronger.

Acrylic paints change color when dry,? They do not tarnish, crack, or crumble over time, making them suitable for construction work and for apparel and home decor.

Peculiarities

It may be necessary to slow down the drying of paint if you need to continue working with a certain layer, create overflows of shades on it, or work with halftones. In this case, the artist uses a shading technique that cannot be done with thick paint. Also, a change in the consistency and speed of drying of the color is necessary when drawing shadows.

The composition, which slows down the thickening and drying of the applied layer of acrylic paint, is a transparent gel-like mass.

Depending on the percentage of glycol in the retardant composition, the time for complete drying of the color layer can vary from half an hour to 4-5 hours. Also, the rate of thickening and drying of the color will vary depending on the ratio of acrylic paint to the thickener in which they were mixed.

When acrylic color is diluted with water, the original tone is greatly distorted, and the consistency of the color becomes watery and inconvenient for application. The retarder does not distort the original color. When applied, the shade does not change or fade. Often the color, on the contrary, acquires a better texture and becomes brighter. Therefore, a slowing composition is often used in order to achieve a particular visual effect when drawing.

Consumption

Paint consumption is calculated for painting only. In other cases, these items are not relevant (artwork, nail polish). Consumption is indicated on the package. It all depends on the type of paint and the manufacturer. You can calculate the required volume by determining the area to be painted. The consumption of paint, the porosity of the surface and the number of layers (usually 1-2) are important.

The packaging may indicate a value of 1 l / m2. This means that one liter of paint can paint one square meter of the area.As a rule, the error is indicated based on the porosity of the surface - 0.1-0.25 l / m2. 0.1 / m2 - for a smooth and dense surface, 0.25 / m2 - for an absorbent and porous surface.

Required tools

Acrylic dyes are versatile in use. Thanks to its water-based formulation, acrylics can be made thinner without special solutions. This requires the simplest tools found in every home.

How to paint?

The brush is a versatile tool for painting and drawing. Use wide flat paint brushes to create a solid color. For more complex surfaces (pipe, battery) use a round brush. For drawing, you can use both paint brushes and art brushes. The Linear Brush is a flat, short-haired brush. It is suitable for creating straight lines.

There are manicure brushes. It is recommended to work with such tools in bright light and with a palette. Large flat areas are painted over with a roller. It is chosen according to the length and composition of the coat. The longer the pile of the fur coat, the more textured the coating will be. For a smooth finish, use felt or nylon rollers. Mini-rollers are used when painting corners, joints or transferring a pattern using a stencil. When working with a roller, use a special tray.

Terms of use

When working with a composition that slows down the drying of acrylic paints, you need to adhere to certain rules:

• One way to use a retarder is to mix it with paint. To do this, about a quarter of the retardant composition (25% of the color of the color) must be mixed with acrylic paint. Mix the retarder and paint thoroughly. To do this, you can use a paintbrush or a wooden stick. With this ratio, a thin layer of acrylic color scheme will completely dry in 30-40 minutes. Drying time for an average layer or 2-3 layers will be 2 hours.
• The retardant can be used in a 1: 2 ratio (1 part retarder and 2 parts paint). The resulting composition will be more fluid and pliable when applied with a brush. Drying time for a thin layer of color will increase to 1 hour.

• When mixing acrylic paints and a retardant in a 1: 1 ratio, you will get a mixture of the consistency of liquid sour cream. Such a composition cannot be used with some artistic techniques. Complete drying of the layer with such a composition ratio will occur in 2 hours.
• Do not mix paint with too much drying agent. If the amount of retarder exceeds the amount of color, this negatively affects the quality of the resulting solution. Bubbles form in the coloring composition, which interferes with its uniform application.

• The optimal ratio of acrylic color and retardant is 1: ¼ (part of the paint and a quarter of the drying retardant). If these proportions are observed, the color properties are preserved, and the consistency of the finished mixture is optimal.
• To create an artistic "haze" effect, in addition to the retardant composition, a small amount of water is added to the paint. Also, a similar composition is used to paint over the base or background. The addition of water allows the consistency of the color to be thinned, which allows the paint to cover a larger surface area. It is worth remembering that the use of water with a retarder will significantly increase the drying time of the layer.

Brush care

Acrylic paint differs in that no matter what techniques the artist uses and no matter how much he is fond of the process, he must make sure that the brushes do not dry out. Acrylic dries very quickly and then the tools can be considered damaged. To prevent this, you need to keep the brushes in water while painting, which gradually spoils them, but at least does not disable them.

The process of cleaning the brush after painting:

• excess paint after finishing work must be removed with a rag or thick paper, carefully wiping the brush on them;
• then the brush is lowered into the water, and rotational movements are made, with the help of which acrylic is removed from the pile;
• the tool is wiped off with a rag and soaped with soap;
• then the soap must be washed off, making sure that it gets both between the pile and under the clip (in order for the brush to serve longer, even the slightest paint residues must be removed);
• the brush should be rinsed until clear water, after which it is wiped dry and the pile is left to dry (the bunch should be directed upwards, and the brush has been previously given the correct shape).

Brush sizes

To determine what brush sizes are needed for a particular acrylic painting style, you need to gain some experience. When choosing a brush number, you should take into account the fact that the numbering may differ from different manufacturers, therefore, having found the best option for drawing, you should buy tools from only one company.

The numbering of the hands starts from one and goes up to 16 (sometimes 14). The thickness of the stroke increases accordingly. However, the difference between the tassels is not only in the width, but also in the length of the handle. The softer tools are shorter, the harder ones are longer, which allows you to paint at some distance from the canvas and better evaluate the picture.