SOLUTIONS AND DISPERSIONS Solutions A solvent is a liquid, which will dissolve another material, liquid or solid. A solute is the material dissolved by the solvent, A solution is the resulting liquid. Salt and water, sugar and water are solutions, a hinder and solvent are also a solution. Dispersions A paint consists of solid particles suspended in the vehicle, where there is no solubility, so a paint is a dispersion. A dispersion can be either a solid o liquid dispersed within another liquid, where there is no solubility. A suspension A suspension is when fine particulate solids, e.g. pigment and extenders are dispersed within a liquid, the vehicle. Ideally after the manufacturing process, each particle should be completely wetted by the vehicle. However because the pigment particles are so ‘small, they cluster together to form agglomerates or aggregates. In some paints, especially gloss, the size of these aggregates is a very important factor and so has to be checked. ‘The aggregate size is known as Degree of Dispersion of Fineness of Grind. An emulsion An emulsion is a liquid dispersed in another liquid when there is no solubility. In vinyl or actylic emulsion, very tiny droplets of resin are suspended within water, which can now be seen to be anon solvent. In an emulsion water is a carrier, not a solvent. Water is called the continuous phase, and oil/resin is called the dispersed phase. Tnspection Grade 3/2. Rev 1 April 2004 TW woxp care ror Solutions & Dispersions Sl [MATERIALS JOINING Copyright © 2003, TWI Led TECHNOLOGY