Glossary of Paint Defect Terms

Banding

This defect is found in spray applications where there is heavy application of paint on the
outside of the spray pattern with little paint in the canter of the fan.

The cause can be:

Too much air pressure

Uneven lapping of the spray gun
Having the gun too close to the job

The remedy may be found from:

Use at correct air pressure

Ensure that the overlap of each stroke is 50% over the previous coat
Hold gun at the correct distance from the job - about 15 cm for lacquers and 25 cm
for enamels. To correct a coat that has been applied, re-coat with double coat using
thinner that has been specifically recommended for the paint using indicated solvent
ratio and pressure, and ensuring that the gun is held at the correct distance.

Bleeding

This is the migration of the color from a previous coat into the freshly applied top coat. This
defect usually occurs when a light color is applied over a dark color, particularly reds and
maroons which are prepared by using organic pigments not resistant to solvents or
application over a surface contaminated with bitumen where the solvents in the fresh paint
dissolve the bitumen.

The remedy is:

Use a bleed sealer before application of the light color

Wash the surface with mineral turps if it is contaminated with bitumen.

Blistering

This defect is the appearance of irregular blisters on the paint finish.

This defect can be caused by:

Not correctly cleaning substrate

Contamination of the brush, air gun, line etc.
 Using wrong thinner or incorrect amount of thinners
Old paint surface
Excess film thickness
In timber finishes, not allowing the solvent, particularly paint removers , to evaporate
before repainting

This defect may be overcome by:

Cleaning all surfaces free of grease and allowing the solvent to evaporate.
Using recommended thinner at correct ratio.
In spray applications, inspect so that water does not build up in the traps, especially
in humid weather.
Check that the new paint is compatible with the old surface.
Do not apply paint films too quickly and allow solvents to evaporate before re-
coating.

Blooming

This defect gives a bloom or white deposit, like the bloom on a grape or plum, after the paint
has dried. The cause is the rising of soluble fractions of the pigment rising to the surface on
the paint's drying. The remedy for spray paints is to rub the surface down.

Blushing

This is a white deposit appearing on the surface of lacquer films only. The defect is caused
by painting with lacquers in high humidity conditions where the water contained in the air
condenses on the paint film The remedy is not to paint in humid conditions or to add a
strong, active solvent that may stop the blushing.

Bronzing

This is a defect that was often observed on cars painted red or blue where after a period of
time a characteristic red tone developed on the paint surface. The cause was older types of
pigments like phthalocyanine or Prussian blues. The defect is not common with the pigments
available today.

Chalking

Chalking is the powdery deposit on the surface of the paint which dulls the gloss and
appears after exposure. This defect is usually associated with long exposures to sunlight and
is a natural degradation of the paint film. Some combinations and types of pigments and
resins show more pronounced chalking than others.
Checking

Checking is the appearance of wide splits with round edges that occur in the top coat. The
cause is usually due to the surface not being clean (could be old paint) or too high a film
build or the materials not being mixed properly. The remedy is to remove the old paint,
cleaning the surface and mixing the paint ingredients properly.

Cracking or Crazing

This defect is a series of irregular cracks in the surface of the paint.

The cause of this defect can be:

Application of the top coat before the previous coat is dried

Too thick of a top coat
Impurities on the surface or the effect of impurities on the applied coat.

The remedy is the let the intermediate coats dry before the top coat is applied, clean the
surface well, remove the previous coat or ensure that the top coat is not applied too thickly.

Dirt Retention

This is the deposition of dirt and dust on the paint film. For certain types of paint, the dirt may
become entrained into the surface. The paints that resist dirt retention are high-gloss
enamels while the low gloss latexes are the most susceptible to this defect.

Fading

Fading is the decrease in the intensity of the color after exposure. It should be tested for
after removal of any chalking that may have occurred as this will tend to mask the actual
fade of the pigment. In general organic pigments, especially those of low cost, will fade more
than pigments that are inorganic. More expensive coatings especially prepared for exterior
exposure will resist fading more than less expensive paints.

Fish Eye

This defect is indicated by small round imperfections in the top coat. The defect is caused by
traces of silicone or oil on the surface prior to painting. The remedy is to thoroughly clean the
surface and if spray painting, to ensure that there is an oil filter on the air line.

Flaking
Flaking is the lifting of small-to-large sections of the paint and is due to poor adhesion and to
the brittleness of the paint. The causes can be varied, for example the defect could be
caused by efflorescence or the migration of soluble salts to the paint-media interface which
can cause the paint to be forced off the surface. The paint may react with moisture and any
traces of alkali to decompose the paint - this is called saponification. It may be due to failure
to remove millscale from the steel before painting.

Floatation and Flooding

Floatation or floating occurs when a paint has been incorrectly formulated with two or more
different colored pigments when one of the pigments floats to the surface giving different
differences. On close examination the surface appears mottled with regular shaped cells.

Flooding is similar to floatation in that one of the pigments migrates to the surface when the
paint is produced using two pigments with different densities.

These defects are corrected mainly by better paint formulation.

Gassing

This is the formation of a gas, usually by hydrogen, by the reaction of reactive pigments, like
Zinc and Aluminum, with acidic materials in the resin. It can be overcome by better
formulation or packaging the paint separate from the pigment and mixing the ingredients
prior to application.

Mould

The growth of mould on a paint film causes severe discoloration. Mould is a plant growth that
requires moisture, the presence of food and the correct temperature for growth. The defect
can occur on most types of paint but is most prevalent in bathrooms, kitchens and exterior
walls that are in shady positions. The paints that are most susceptible are soft oil-based
paints or varnishes and emulsions, especially if they are low gloss where dirt can be trapped
in the film.

Often the mould growth can be killed and color removed by washing with dilute sodium
hypochlorite solution taking due care as this preparation is alkaline. Safety glasses and
gloves have to be worn. Before repainting, susceptible surfaces should be prepared with
anti-mould preparations, like sodium pentachlorophenate and by using either paints
prepared with mould inhibiting pigments, like Zinc oxide, or by using high gloss finishes. In
extreme cases it may be necessary to remove the high humidity in the room by using
exhaust fans.

Orange Peel
This defect gives the paint finish the rough appearance similar to the outside of an orange.
The defect is found in spray painting and is generally due to having the wrong solvent. It can
also be due to an incorrectly adjusted spray gun.

The solution is to use the manufacturers recommended thinner and to adjust and use the
gun correctly.

Peeling

Peeling is simply another type of flaking where the amount of paint film removed is greater.

Pinholing

The defect is the appearance of small holes in dried paint film. The problem is most probably
caused by too thick a coat trapping solvents into the film, or by air bubbles. The defect may
be due to not cleaning the surface before painting, using the wrong solvents in spray painting
or incorrect air pressure. The problem can be solved by addressing the above causes.

Poor Flow

Poor flow can manifest itself in two ways: if the paint is too thick and will not flow out this will
show up as a rough surface or orange peel where the surface resembles the skin of an
orange; if the paint flows too much the result will be runs, sags and wave formation. This
defect is remedied by proper formulation and when thinning the paint to use the right solvent
and the correct amount.

Poor Hiding or Lack of Opacity

Opacity is the ability of a paint film, when applied to a given surface, to hide or obliterate the
surface or the undercoat. Poor hiding power can be due to too thin a coat being applied or to
the formulation using a poor quality pigment.

Runs and Sags

As the name suggests this is the formulation of runs or sages on the finished paint film.

The defect can be caused by a number of things:

Too thick of a film.

Too much thinners.
Not allowing the first coat to dry before applying the top coat.

Settling
This is the separation of the pigments and occurs to a certain extent in all paints. It becomes
a serious defect when the pigment is difficult to reincorporate into the paint by stirring.

The defect occurs due to the high densities of some pigments and can be accelerated by a
drop in viscosity, the paint being stored at high ambient temperatures or by being subjected
to vibration for example on long transportation by rail.

The control of settling lies in selection of suitable pigments and the addition of additives that
increase the viscosity of the paint.

Slow Drying

Slow drying occurs when the paint remains tacky for an extended period of time. This will
result in the film picking up insects or dirt before it is hard and will make repainting difficult.

The main causes are:

Too thick of an application of the paint when using air-drying paints. As these paints
require oxygen to penetrate the film to produce dying, if the film is too thick oxygen
will not penetrate.
The viscosity of the paint is too high for the application. This can occur in cold
weather and can be overcome by reducing the viscosity with the recommended
thinners for the paint.
The paint was applied at too cold a temperature. This will cause the chemical
reaction that takes place to cause the film to cure slowly.
High humidity due to rain or the like will reduce the evaporation of the solvent, the
first step in drying.
The surface to which the paint is applied is not clean and has traces of wax or paint
removed on it.
The coat to which the paint is being applied has not dried when the next coat is
applied.

Staining

Contamination of many surfaces with water, soot, smoke, tannins and tobacco can result in
color coming through the paint surface to cause stains. Stains caused by water will leave a
tide mark and after drying, the paint around the stain can be removed and the surface
repainted. If the surface may become damp again, remove the source of the water or paint
with chlorinated rubber or a hard varnish. Patches of soot or smoke should be removed
before coating. Use of an insulating paint before the final coat can help. Nicotine should be
removed with an alkaline cleaner (bleach) before coating. Remember to wash off all the
alkali before attempting to paint.
Viscosity Drop

Low viscosities may be simply due to incomplete stirring or the addition of too much solvent.
The viscosity may decrease on standing in water-borne paints due to enzymic attack on the
thickeners used. Modern latex paints use thickeners that are not readily attacked by bacteria.
Changes in the orientation of the pigments (for example partial flocculation) may reduce the
viscosity.

Wrinkling, Webbing, Frosting and Gas Checking

Wrinkling is the development of wrinkles in the paint film as it dries, usually due to the
formation of a skin. Defects similar to wrinkling are webbing, frosting and gas checking.
Webbing is the development of wrinkles, usually in a well defined pattern and if it occurs in
an oven it is called gas checking. Frosting is the formation a haze which is due to fine
wrinkles and it occurs in gas fired drying ovens.

The causes can be:

Due to the paint's being applied too thick, especially with high oil-length alkyds,
varnishes with wood oil and too much cobalt drier, enamels based on alkyd or
phenolic resins with drying oils and black enamels containing bitumen.
Stoving paints containing bitumen.
Frosting may be due to the products combustion in the oven reacting with the surface
of the film or may be due to high humidity.
Too much cobalt drier.

Sometimes the wrinkle pattern may be induced into the paint to produce films that will hide
surface defects.

Another type of defected related to wrinkling are crocodiling or alligatoring where the wrinkle
pattern resembles the hide of one of these reptiles.