HEMPEL
HEMPEL’s Protective & Decorative Paints
Code of Practice No. 96.35
Quality of enamels
Summary of quality of enamels:
• The areas of use
• The Enamel test in practice
How to determine the quality of
enamels
The quality of an enamel can be deter-
mined on the following properties:
• Hiding power
• Drying time
• Final paint film appearance
• Colour and gloss level
• Tendency to yellow
What is an enamel?
Enamels are top coats formulated with
alkyd, epoxy, polyurethane or other type
of binder. They can be formulated to give
different properties with regard to dry-
ing time, tendency to yellow, gloss level,
hiding power and colour.
Alkyd enamels
The following will only describe quality
tests of alkyd enamels, but most of the
tests will also be relevant for other
enamels:
Alkyds are normally solvent-borne, but
water-borne alkyds can also be formu-
lated. Alkyds will dry and cure first by
evaporation of the solvents and secondly
by a chemical reaction between the coat-
ing and oxygen from the air.
Properties of alkyd enamels
In the following we will go through the
different properties of alkyd enamels.
This should help you choosing the prod-
uct that fit your requirements.
Hiding power (opacity)
Hiding power is the ability of the paint
to cover or hide the substrate. It is a
proper ty that is especially important
when you want to change the colour of
a substrate.
Note: This code should not be used without reference to the relevant Product Data Sheet and
Material Safety Data Sheet, copies of which are available from HEMPEL upong request.
Issued by HEMPEL’S MARINE PAINTS A/S · 97·05/009/30/HEMPEL In-house/KLS Digital
Code of Practice
Cheap enamels will often have poor hid-
ing power, and more expensive enam-
els may have better hiding power.
The hiding power is determined by the
amount of colouring pigments in the
product. As colouring pigments are some
of the most expensive raw materials in
the enamel, there is a direct relation-
ship between hiding power and price.
Test of hiding power
Apply the enamel by brush to a glass
panel or a thick piece of transparent
plasticboard. Let it dry thoroughly and
hold it against the light.
• If you can see through the paint film
then the hiding power must be con-
sidered poor and you will need to
apply two coats or more. Therefore
more paint is required to hide the
substrate and/or obtain an even col-
our.
• If you are not able to see through
the påint film, then the paint will hide
in one or two coats and thereby you
will save not only on the quantity of
paint used but also on the labour
cost and time involved.
Drying time
As stated before, enamels will dry not
only by evaporation of solvent, but also
by a chemical reaction between the paint
and oxygen from the air.
The paint should stay open long enough
for the paint to flow together to form a
uniform film. It should also dr y fast
enough to avoid dirt pick up.
Test of drying
Apply the paint to a panel of wood, steel,
glass etc. Allow the solvents to evapo-
rate. Touch the paint with a finger at
intervals of half an hour. When the paint
no longer feels tacky, it is dry to touch.
HEMPEL Code of Practice
Quality of enamels
Please note that the drying time is also
dependent on temperature of the sub-
strate and ventilation. At 20°C and suf-
ficient ventilation, an enamel should be
dry to touch within max. 7-8 hours.
Paint film appearance
Enamels are normally smooth finishes.
If the paint has not been manufactured
96.33 Test of Hiding properly it may contain large particles
of undispersed pigments or other con-
taminants which will detract from the
decorative appearance.
Test of paint film appearance
Apply the paint in a low and even film
thickness on a smooth substrate. Allow
the paint to dry and evaluate the appear-
ance.
Please be aware that there is a distinct
difference between dust coming from
the air/room and contaminants from the
96.33 Weather Test paint. The paint should form a nice and
smooth film without coarse particles in
the film.
Colour and gloss
Enamels can be formulated to different
gloss levels and in different colours.
It is important that you get the product
with the colour and gloss level you de-
sire. The colour and the gloss level of
the product are stated in the product
data sheet.
Some alkyd enamels are sold as white,
but when applied they appear yellow! - It
is also important that the paint, after it
has been applied, retains its colour and
gloss for a reasonable length of time.
If the enamel has been formulated with
cheap, low-quality pigments it may loose
it’s colour and gloss when exposed to
sun light.
Tendency to yellow
All alkyd enamels will yellow when ex-
posed in certain environments. The yel-
lowing is only a cosmetic problem and
will not detract from the protective value
of the coating.
Code of Practice 1 May 1997
However, if good quality raw materials
have been used to formulate the paint,
it is possible to reduce the tendency to
yellow. There is no direct relationship
between tendency to yellow and price -
except for real non-yellowing enamels,
which will be significantly more expen-
sive as compared to the traditional ones.
Enamels will yellow when exposed to the
following conditions:
• Inside “dark” rooms where the sur-
faces are not exposed to sunlight.
• When exposed to elevated tempera-
tures for extended periods.
• When exposed to tobacco smoke and
other pollutants.
Test on yellowing tendency (and col-
our and gloss stability)
Apply the enamel on 3 panels (wooden
boards, glass or steel panels). Allow the
paint to dry and cure for 2 days.
Expose one outside in direct sunlight.
Keep the other panel inside in a normally
lit room. Place the third panel in a
drawer. After 21 days (500 hours) com-
pare the 3 panels.
• If the panel which has been exposed
outside has lost gloss and has faded,
it has probably been formulated with
low quality raw materials. This must
be taken into consideration if the
product is for exterior use.
• If the panel which has been left in
the drawer for 21 days has yellowed
considerably the coating will also
yellow when you use it indoors.
From the foregoing you may get the im-
pression that enamels are very tricky
and that it is extremely dif ficult to
choose the right product. This is not the
case.
Our intention with this code of practice
has been to inform you of the fact, that
there is as direct relationship between
quality and price. And we have tried to
suggest a few simple tests which you
can use to compare different products
and evaluate the quality.
Code of Practice 2
HEMPEL
HEMPEL’s Protective & Decorative Paints
Code of Practice No. 96.35
Quality of enamels
Summary of quality of enamels:
• The areas of use
• The Enamel test in practice
How to determine the quality of
enamels
The quality of an enamel can be deter-
mined on the following properties:
• Hiding power
• Drying time
• Final paint film appearance
• Colour and gloss level
• Tendency to yellow
What is an enamel?
Enamels are top coats formulated with
alkyd, epoxy, polyurethane or other type
of binder. They can be formulated to give
different properties with regard to dry-
ing time, tendency to yellow, gloss level,
hiding power and colour.
Alkyd enamels
The following will only describe quality
tests of alkyd enamels, but most of the
tests will also be relevant for other
enamels:
Alkyds are normally solvent-borne, but
water-borne alkyds can also be formu-
lated. Alkyds will dry and cure first by
evaporation of the solvents and secondly
by a chemical reaction between the coat-
ing and oxygen from the air.
Properties of alkyd enamels
In the following we will go through the
different properties of alkyd enamels.
This should help you choosing the prod-
uct that fit your requirements.
Hiding power (opacity)
Hiding power is the ability of the paint
to cover or hide the substrate. It is a
proper ty that is especially important
when you want to change the colour of
a substrate.
Note: This code should not be used without reference to the relevant Product Data Sheet and
Material Safety Data Sheet, copies of which are available from HEMPEL upong request.
Issued by HEMPEL’S MARINE PAINTS A/S · 97·05/009/30/HEMPEL In-house/KLS Digital
Code of Practice
Cheap enamels will often have poor hid-
ing power, and more expensive enam-
els may have better hiding power.
The hiding power is determined by the
amount of colouring pigments in the
product. As colouring pigments are some
of the most expensive raw materials in
the enamel, there is a direct relation-
ship between hiding power and price.
Test of hiding power
Apply the enamel by brush to a glass
panel or a thick piece of transparent
plasticboard. Let it dry thoroughly and
hold it against the light.
• If you can see through the paint film
then the hiding power must be con-
sidered poor and you will need to
apply two coats or more. Therefore
more paint is required to hide the
substrate and/or obtain an even col-
our.
• If you are not able to see through
the påint film, then the paint will hide
in one or two coats and thereby you
will save not only on the quantity of
paint used but also on the labour
cost and time involved.
Drying time
As stated before, enamels will dry not
only by evaporation of solvent, but also
by a chemical reaction between the paint
and oxygen from the air.
The paint should stay open long enough
for the paint to flow together to form a
uniform film. It should also dr y fast
enough to avoid dirt pick up.
Test of drying
Apply the paint to a panel of wood, steel,
glass etc. Allow the solvents to evapo-
rate. Touch the paint with a finger at
intervals of half an hour. When the paint
no longer feels tacky, it is dry to touch.
HEMPEL Code of Practice
Quality of enamels
Please note that the drying time is also
dependent on temperature of the sub-
strate and ventilation. At 20°C and suf-
ficient ventilation, an enamel should be
dry to touch within max. 7-8 hours.
Paint film appearance
Enamels are normally smooth finishes.
If the paint has not been manufactured
96.33 Test of Hiding properly it may contain large particles
of undispersed pigments or other con-
taminants which will detract from the
decorative appearance.
Test of paint film appearance
Apply the paint in a low and even film
thickness on a smooth substrate. Allow
the paint to dry and evaluate the appear-
ance.
Please be aware that there is a distinct
difference between dust coming from
the air/room and contaminants from the
96.33 Weather Test paint. The paint should form a nice and
smooth film without coarse particles in
the film.
Colour and gloss
Enamels can be formulated to different
gloss levels and in different colours.
It is important that you get the product
with the colour and gloss level you de-
sire. The colour and the gloss level of
the product are stated in the product
data sheet.
Some alkyd enamels are sold as white,
but when applied they appear yellow! - It
is also important that the paint, after it
has been applied, retains its colour and
gloss for a reasonable length of time.
If the enamel has been formulated with
cheap, low-quality pigments it may loose
it’s colour and gloss when exposed to
sun light.
Tendency to yellow
All alkyd enamels will yellow when ex-
posed in certain environments. The yel-
lowing is only a cosmetic problem and
will not detract from the protective value
of the coating.
Code of Practice 1 May 1997
However, if good quality raw materials
have been used to formulate the paint,
it is possible to reduce the tendency to
yellow. There is no direct relationship
between tendency to yellow and price -
except for real non-yellowing enamels,
which will be significantly more expen-
sive as compared to the traditional ones.
Enamels will yellow when exposed to the
following conditions:
• Inside “dark” rooms where the sur-
faces are not exposed to sunlight.
• When exposed to elevated tempera-
tures for extended periods.
• When exposed to tobacco smoke and
other pollutants.
Test on yellowing tendency (and col-
our and gloss stability)
Apply the enamel on 3 panels (wooden
boards, glass or steel panels). Allow the
paint to dry and cure for 2 days.
Expose one outside in direct sunlight.
Keep the other panel inside in a normally
lit room. Place the third panel in a
drawer. After 21 days (500 hours) com-
pare the 3 panels.
• If the panel which has been exposed
outside has lost gloss and has faded,
it has probably been formulated with
low quality raw materials. This must
be taken into consideration if the
product is for exterior use.
• If the panel which has been left in
the drawer for 21 days has yellowed
considerably the coating will also
yellow when you use it indoors.
From the foregoing you may get the im-
pression that enamels are very tricky
and that it is extremely dif ficult to
choose the right product. This is not the
case.
Our intention with this code of practice
has been to inform you of the fact, that
there is as direct relationship between
quality and price. And we have tried to
suggest a few simple tests which you
can use to compare different products
and evaluate the quality.
Code of Practice 2