Paint can be classified in to several categories as stated in the below.
- Solvent and the binder - Binder is an important component of paint. Certain types of binders as well as solvents are used to manufacture paint depend on it's expected properties.
Water base (Emulsion) - Acrylic, Vinyl Acrylic and PVC binders are used in water base paints. Generally these are known as Acrylic paints and PVAs. These are large complex polymers disperse in water. And the micro particles of the polymers are non soluble and they make 'plastic ' layers in the water medium. When the paint applies water evaporates and these 'plastic' individuals are coalescence and binding to the substrate to the other particles and make the continuous film. These paints are known as latex paints or emulsions.
- Solvent base/ Alkyd (Enamel) - These paints used synthetic binders called alkyds. But classical binders were vegetable oil such as linseed oil and soya oil were common. These are water in-soluble and they have high volatile organic compounds. Also they contain high absorbable organic halides. Therefore they have negative environmental and health impacts. Also these paints are easily become yellow as it contains alkyd resins.
- Application
- Decorative paints- for architectural paints used for decorative purposes both interior and exterior. Most of them are water base.Common architectural paints are,
- Primers and bonding liquids- use as a preparatory coat before applying the top coat. This is used to cover stains, enhance the covering capacity of the paints, alkali resistance, cover the uneven surfaces. Also it smooth the rough surfaces and provide a better finish But depending on the substrate primers are use for many requirements. For an example wood primers are use for penetration and stain resistance while metal primers are use for corrosive resistance.
- Interior paints- The properties are more proven to higher stain resistance.(sometimes wash ability without any damage to paint ) and most commonly preferable with more sheen.
- Exterior paints- Both Interior and exterior paints have same properties. But exterior paints have more protective function such as resistance to harsh weather conditions( UV light, rain, dust).Also they have higher resistance to micro biological properties such as fungi, mould, bacteria, etc
- Roof paint
- Industrial paints- includes wide varieties of specialised paints such as,
- Automotive paints
- Road markings
- Metallic paints
- Marine paints
