How to Select Fillers for Paint Coatings

Fillers are used in paint coatings as they increase the thickness of the paint film making it solid and voluminous. With the use of fillers, the mechanical strength like durability and abrasion resistance increases. When adding fillers, the paint film undergoes a reaction where its light penetration is blocked allowing the appearance of the filler paint to look more matte-like. This helps extend the life of the paint film. Fillers for paint used in coatings mostly include calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, talc powder, kaolin, porous powdered quartz, white carbon black, mica powder, wollastonite, bentonite, precipitated barium sulfate, etc. to name a few. Chemical properties of the paint film like moisture resistance, anti-rust, and flame retardancy are also strengthened with the help of fillers.

So what factors should be taken into mind when selecting fillers?

• pH value of the paint

• Speed of sedimentation is important and this depends on the size of the solid particle-its density and viscosity, the bigger the particle, the higher its density and faster the sinking rate

• Paint stability is important which is again dependent on many factors.

• There can occur damage to the equipment being used owing to the hardness of the fillers used. Quartz is an example.

• The viscosity can be affected depending on the small size and porous nature of the particle.

Paint manufacturing company Caparol Paints LLC marked its 20th-anniversary celebrations in Dubai in 2019. The company is into the production and marketing of high-quality emulsions, enamels, and decorative and structural coatings.