Abrasion Resistance – The ability of a coating to resist degradation due to mechanical wear. Abrasive Media The material used in abrasive blasting to remove surface contaminants. Examples of abrasive media are sand, iron shot, crushed iron slag, glass beads … Continue reading →

Barrier Coat – A coating used to isolate a paint system either from the surface to which it is applied or a previous coating for the purpose of increasing adhesion or insuring compatibility. Binder The nonvolatile portion of the vehicle … Continue reading →

Calcium Chloride Test Method – The recommended method for testing the moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of a concrete slab. This method results in a quantitative measurement of MVTR in pounds per 1000 square feet over 24 hours. The industry … Continue reading →

Degreaser – A chemical solution or compound designed to remove grease, oils and similar contaminants. Deionized Water Water which has been purified to remove mineral salts. Delamination The separation between layers of coats due to very poor adhesion. Density Mass … Continue reading →

Effervescence – An effect in the film caused by rapid solvent release. This “boiling” of solvent causes a pinholed or cratered appearance reducing gloss. Efflorescence Water soluble salts, deposited as moisture evaporates, on the exterior of brick or concrete. Elastic … Continue reading →

Fading – Loss of gloss or sheen. Fan Pattern The geometry of a spray pattern. Feather Edge Reduced film thickness at the edge of a topping in order to produce a smooth, continuous appearance. It is recommended to key in … Continue reading →

Galvanic Anode – A metal which, when properly connected to metallic structures of different composition, will generate an electric current. Galvanic Corrosion Corrosion associated with the current of a galvanic cell made up of dissimilar electrodes. Galvanized Steel Cold rolled … Continue reading →

Hardener – An activator curing agent, catalyst or cross-linking agent. Hardness The degree to which a material will withstand pressure without deformation or scratching. Hg Inch Pound Hiding The ability of a coating to obscure the surface to which it … Continue reading →

ICRI – International Concrete Repair Institute. One of the best reference sources for the coatings industry, ICRI had its origin at a World of Concrete seminar in February of 1988, at which attendees voiced their frustration with the lack of … Continue reading →

Ketone – An organic compound with a carbonyl group attached to two carbon atoms. Usually indicates a strong, fast evaporating solvent. Krebs Units (KU) An arbitrary unit of viscosity for a Stormer viscosity instrument.