Glossary

P

Paint
(Verb) To apply a thin layer of coating to a substrate by brush, roller, spray or other suitable method.

(Noun) A pigmented liquid designed for application to a substrate, in a thin layer, which is then converted to a solid film. Paint is designed to protect and/or decorate the surface it is applied to.

Paint Chips
Flaked vinyl paint chips used with epoxy and/or polyurethane resins to provide a relatively thin (1/32") decorative flooring.

Pass
The motion of a spray gun in one direction only.

Passivate
To make a surface such as steel inert or unreactive, usually by chemical means.

Paste
The product of a dispersion process. It is usually very high viscosity used for vertical applications, as in “Cove Paste”. Also a concentrated pigment dispersion used for shading.

Pattern
The shape or stream of material coming from a spray gun.

Peeling
A film of paint or coating lifting from the surface due to poor adhesion. Peeling normally applies to large pieces. (See chipping)

Perm
The time rate of water vapor migration through a material of one grain per hour, per square foot, per inch of mercury pressure difference.

Permeability
The degree to which a membrane or coating film will allow the passage or penetration of a liquid or gas. Adding flake to a coating enhances its permeability rating.

pH
A measure of acidity and alkalinity; pH 1-7 is acid and pH 7-14 is alkali. 7 is neutral.

Phenolic
A synthetic resin used for heat or water resistance.

Phosphatizing
A pretreatment of steel by a chemical solution containing metal phosphates and phosphoric acid to temporarily inhibit corrosion.

Pickling
The treatment of steel for the removal of rust and mill scale by immersion in a hot acid solution containing an inhibitor.

Pigment
A finely ground natural or synthetic, insoluble particle adding color and opacity or corrosion inhibition to a coating film.

Pigment / Binder Ratio
A ratio of total pigment to binder solids in paint.

Pigment Grind
The action of dispersing a pigment in a liquid vehicle.

Pigment Volume Concentration (PVC)
The percent by volume occupied by pigment in the dried film of paint generally expressed as a percentage.

Pinholing
A film defect characterized by small, pore-like flaws in a coating which extend entirely through the film.

Plasticizer
An agent added to the resin to aid in flexibility.

Polyester Resin
A group of synthetic resins that contain repeating ester groups. A special type of modified alkyd resin.

Polymer
A substance of molecules that consist of one or more structural units repeated any number of times.

Polymerization
A chemical reaction in which two or more small molecules combine to form large molecules containing repeated structural units.

Polyurethane
An exceptionally hard, wear resistant coating made by the reaction of polyols with a multi-functional isocyanate.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
A hard tough plastic solid used for plastics and coatings, commonly known as vinyl.

Porosity
The presence of numerous minute voids in a cured material.

Pot Life
The length of time a paint material is useful after its original package is opened or a catalyst or other curing agent is added.

Potable Water
Water fit for human consumption, as in drinking water.

Practical Coverage
The spreading rate of a coating calculated at the recommended dry film thickness and assuming 15% material loss.

Pressure Cleaning
Blast cleaning of metal or concrete using high velocity water.

See - High & Ultra High Pressure Water Jetting

Primer
The first coat of material applied to a surface, formulated to have good bonding, wetting and inhibiting properties.

Profile
The term used to describe the anchor pattern of a surface produced by sandblasting, acid etching or similar method.

Pull Test
A method of testing the effective adhesion of a topping or coating to a surface by gluing a button to the surface and slowly applying pull pressure until the coating comes loose or the surface breaks, resulting in a quantitative measurement in psi. See “Tape Test.”

Pyrometer
An instrument used to measure the temperature of a surface.