HEMPEL
HEMPEL's Protective & Decorative Paints
Code of Practice No. 96.32
Quality of fillers
Summary of quality of fillers:
• The area of use
• Differences between Fillers
• The Filler tests in practice
Purpose of quality test
The purpose of making a quality test of
Fillers is to make sure that the perform-
ance is acceptable to fulfil the require-
ments of the subsequently applied paint
system.
Area of use
The fillers are used on porous, uneven
surfaces such as concrete, plaster/ gyp-
sum and masonry to repair imperfec-
tions in the substrate.
They are used on both interior and exte-
rior sur faces normally on top of a
Primer/Sealer or binder/sealer which
forms a good basis for the filler.
What is a filler?
A Filler is a thick paint applied on top of
a suitable primer/sealer or binder/
sealer to a clean surface, such as con-
crete, plaster, gypsum, masonr y and
wood. This is done to secure a good,
smooth and even sur face which forms
the basis for a decorative or protective
paint system.
Different fillers
There are several different fillers avail-
able. Their uses depend on the type of
surface, the type of solvent in the sub-
sequent paint system (water-/solvent-
borne) and the resistance to e.g. water
migration, abrasion, chemicals etc.
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 upon request.
Issued by HEMPEL’S MARINE PAINTS A/S · 97·05/014/30/HEMPEL In-house/KLS Digital
Code of Practice
Pigmented epoxy filler
Mostly known as epoxy filler for exterior
use. It is a very hard, impact and chemi-
cal resistant material when cured. It can
be applied in a dry film thickness of up
to 10 mm without cracking. Can be
recoated with solvent-borne primer/seal-
ers and is the preferred filler for epoxy
and polyurethane systems.
Pigmented epoxy grout
Mostly known as solvent-free epoxy
grout. It is a ver y hard, impact and
chemical resistant material when cured.
This 3-component material can be ap-
plied in a dry film thickness of up to 30
mm without cracking. Can be recoated
with solvent-borne primers/sealers and
is the preferred grout for epoxy and poly-
urethane systems.
Solvent-borne filler
Mostly known as putty, knifing- or block-
filler. This filler is thixotropic and is
smooth and easy to apply. It can be ap-
plied in a dry film thickness of up to 1
mm without cracking. Accepts a wide
range of solvent- and water-borne top-
coats.
Economic water-borne filler
Mostly known as putty filler for interior
use. Has excellent smoothing and fill-
ing properties. Can be applied in a dry
film thickness of up to 500 micron with-
out cracking. Has a wet-edge of approxi-
mately 10 minutes at 25°C. Recoatable
with water-borne systems.
Code of Practice
HEMPEL Code of Practice
Quality of fillers
All-round water-borne filler
Mostly known as putty filler for interior/
exterior use. Has excellent smoothing
and filling properties. Can be applied in
a dry film thickness of up to 1000 mi-
crons without cracking. Has a wet-edge
of approximately 20 minutes at 25°C.
Recoatable with water-borne or solvent-
borne systems.
High quality water-borne filler
Mostly known as putty filler for exterior
use. Has excellent smoothing and deep
filling properties. Can be applied in a
dry fim thickness of up to 1000 microns
without cracking. Has a wet-edge of ap-
proximately 20 minutes at 25°C. Suit-
able for exterior exposure for a limited
period of time. Can be recoated with
water-borne or solvent-borne systems.
How is a filler quality tested in prac-
tice?
The most important tests to identify the
quality of a Filler are the following:
• Application properties - are checked
by applying the filler with the appli-
cation tools indicated on the prod-
uct data sheet of the product. The
time for good workability is measured
indicating the wet-edge time. The
workability must be easy and show
good smoothing as well as filling
properties.
• Cracking - is measured by applying
the filler on a non-absorbent
substrate, e.g. a piece of plastic, in
excessive film thicknesses. When
the film starts cracking, the dry film
layer is measured by e.g. a slide ruler
with 1 mm indication.
1 January 1997
• Sanding properties - the applied and
dry filler must have easy sanding
properties. This means that exces-
sive force should not be required in
order to achieve a smooth surface
using appropriate sanding paper.
Also there should be no or only little
material left on the sanding paper.
• Scrub resistance - is tested by fin-
ger rubbing with and without water
on the dried film.
An economic filler will typically de-
posit filler material on the finger. In
cases where there is only very little
binder material in the filler, the dried
film can be partly removed by rub-
bing the filler sur face with the hand
without any wetting of the surface.
• Penetration of water - is measured
by splashing water on to the dry filler
surface. If the water is totally ab-
sorbed, the film is very porous. This
will indicate that it is an economic
type suited for interior use only.
If the water is not absorbed but is
partly or fully repelled by the dry filler
film, it will indicate that the film is
not porous and can be used for ex-
terior use.
For additional information please con-
tact your nearest HEMPEL Dealer
Code of Practice 2
HEMPEL
HEMPEL's Protective & Decorative Paints
Code of Practice No. 96.32
Quality of fillers
Summary of quality of fillers:
• The area of use
• Differences between Fillers
• The Filler tests in practice
Purpose of quality test
The purpose of making a quality test of
Fillers is to make sure that the perform-
ance is acceptable to fulfil the require-
ments of the subsequently applied paint
system.
Area of use
The fillers are used on porous, uneven
surfaces such as concrete, plaster/ gyp-
sum and masonry to repair imperfec-
tions in the substrate.
They are used on both interior and exte-
rior sur faces normally on top of a
Primer/Sealer or binder/sealer which
forms a good basis for the filler.
What is a filler?
A Filler is a thick paint applied on top of
a suitable primer/sealer or binder/
sealer to a clean surface, such as con-
crete, plaster, gypsum, masonr y and
wood. This is done to secure a good,
smooth and even sur face which forms
the basis for a decorative or protective
paint system.
Different fillers
There are several different fillers avail-
able. Their uses depend on the type of
surface, the type of solvent in the sub-
sequent paint system (water-/solvent-
borne) and the resistance to e.g. water
migration, abrasion, chemicals etc.
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 upon request.
Issued by HEMPEL’S MARINE PAINTS A/S · 97·05/014/30/HEMPEL In-house/KLS Digital
Code of Practice
Pigmented epoxy filler
Mostly known as epoxy filler for exterior
use. It is a very hard, impact and chemi-
cal resistant material when cured. It can
be applied in a dry film thickness of up
to 10 mm without cracking. Can be
recoated with solvent-borne primer/seal-
ers and is the preferred filler for epoxy
and polyurethane systems.
Pigmented epoxy grout
Mostly known as solvent-free epoxy
grout. It is a ver y hard, impact and
chemical resistant material when cured.
This 3-component material can be ap-
plied in a dry film thickness of up to 30
mm without cracking. Can be recoated
with solvent-borne primers/sealers and
is the preferred grout for epoxy and poly-
urethane systems.
Solvent-borne filler
Mostly known as putty, knifing- or block-
filler. This filler is thixotropic and is
smooth and easy to apply. It can be ap-
plied in a dry film thickness of up to 1
mm without cracking. Accepts a wide
range of solvent- and water-borne top-
coats.
Economic water-borne filler
Mostly known as putty filler for interior
use. Has excellent smoothing and fill-
ing properties. Can be applied in a dry
film thickness of up to 500 micron with-
out cracking. Has a wet-edge of approxi-
mately 10 minutes at 25°C. Recoatable
with water-borne systems.
Code of Practice
HEMPEL Code of Practice
Quality of fillers
All-round water-borne filler
Mostly known as putty filler for interior/
exterior use. Has excellent smoothing
and filling properties. Can be applied in
a dry film thickness of up to 1000 mi-
crons without cracking. Has a wet-edge
of approximately 20 minutes at 25°C.
Recoatable with water-borne or solvent-
borne systems.
High quality water-borne filler
Mostly known as putty filler for exterior
use. Has excellent smoothing and deep
filling properties. Can be applied in a
dry fim thickness of up to 1000 microns
without cracking. Has a wet-edge of ap-
proximately 20 minutes at 25°C. Suit-
able for exterior exposure for a limited
period of time. Can be recoated with
water-borne or solvent-borne systems.
How is a filler quality tested in prac-
tice?
The most important tests to identify the
quality of a Filler are the following:
• Application properties - are checked
by applying the filler with the appli-
cation tools indicated on the prod-
uct data sheet of the product. The
time for good workability is measured
indicating the wet-edge time. The
workability must be easy and show
good smoothing as well as filling
properties.
• Cracking - is measured by applying
the filler on a non-absorbent
substrate, e.g. a piece of plastic, in
excessive film thicknesses. When
the film starts cracking, the dry film
layer is measured by e.g. a slide ruler
with 1 mm indication.
1 January 1997
• Sanding properties - the applied and
dry filler must have easy sanding
properties. This means that exces-
sive force should not be required in
order to achieve a smooth surface
using appropriate sanding paper.
Also there should be no or only little
material left on the sanding paper.
• Scrub resistance - is tested by fin-
ger rubbing with and without water
on the dried film.
An economic filler will typically de-
posit filler material on the finger. In
cases where there is only very little
binder material in the filler, the dried
film can be partly removed by rub-
bing the filler sur face with the hand
without any wetting of the surface.
• Penetration of water - is measured
by splashing water on to the dry filler
surface. If the water is totally ab-
sorbed, the film is very porous. This
will indicate that it is an economic
type suited for interior use only.
If the water is not absorbed but is
partly or fully repelled by the dry filler
film, it will indicate that the film is
not porous and can be used for ex-
terior use.
For additional information please con-
tact your nearest HEMPEL Dealer
Code of Practice 2