Appendix B – Glossary

abrasive
a substance used to wear away a surface by friction
adhesion
the force that makes two materials stick together. When paint bonds with paint, it is called intercoat adhesion; epoxies have great adhesion to most surfaces.
atomize
to convert a substance into very fine particles or droplets
back mask
technique of reverse rolling the tape or masking paper to prevent a hard line in any refinished operation
basecoat/clearcoat
a high-lustre, two-layer paint system, which, unlike conventional lacquer or enamel, has the pigment in the basecoat with a clearcoat as the finish coat to protect the basecoat and produce a deep high-lustre appearance and provide UV protection
blending
a) the stepping out of each coat of colour resulting in a gradual transition from the applied coat to the original coat
b) the technique of chemically transitioning an applied clearcoat into an existing clearcoat
chroma
the strength or intensity of a colour
colour
the visual appearance of a material: red, blue, green, and so on; colours are seen differently by different people.
compatibility
the ability of materials to be used together without separation or reaction
contaminants
foreign substances on the surface to be painted (in the paint or air-borne) that would adversely affect the finish
coverage
a) the area a given amount of paint will cover
b) the point at which the freshly applied paint fully hides the substrate
cure
the process of evaporation, oxidation and polymerization.
degreaser
combination of solvents for the purpose of removing grease and oil from the surface in preparation for painting
dry spray
the result of product being applied in a manner that does not allow it to wet out or flow. Dry spray appears as a rough sandpaper-like texture on the substrate
drying time
the time it takes for an applied product to reach a specific point in the curing process, for example flash time, tack free time, dust free time and handling time
epoxy
a class of resins characterized by good chemical resistance; a film made from epoxy resins is extremely durable and solvent resistant
film thickness
the thickness of a coating measured in mils
finish
the appearance and quality of the dry final coat
fish-eyes
blemishes usually of a circular or crater-like character caused by contamination
flash-off time
the first stage of drying where some of the solvents evaporate
grit
a measure of the size of particles on sandpaper or discs
guide coat
applied coat of contrasting colour to identify surface imperfections when sanding
hue
the name of a colour; the property of a colour by which it can be distinguished; red, blue, yellow, etc.
lustre
the appearance of depth as obtained by multiple coats
masking
using tape and paper to protect an area that will not be painted
media blasting
removal of topcoat using various materials such as sand, soda and plastic beads
metalic
most generally, aluminium flakes that have iridescent and light reflective properties
metamerism
a term used to describe a colour shift when viewed under different light sources
mottling
irregular grouping of metallic particles in a topcoat
nanotechnology
the manipulation of matter on an atomic and molecular scale;
used in the fabrication of macro scale products
orange peel
a film that has the physical appearance of an orange peel, caused by improper spray application
overspray
paint that falls on the area next to the one being painted
primer
an undercoat applied to bare metal to promote adhesion of the primer surfacer or sealer to substrate
primer surfacer
a high-solids primer that fills small imperfections in the substrate and usually must be sanded
putty
a heavy-bodied plastic filler used to repair small dents, pinholes or sanding scratches
respirator
a device worn over the mouth and nose that filters contaminated air; positive pressure fresh air respirators deliver breathable air
runs
a blemish due to excessive paint flow usually caused by improper consistency of paint or heavy application
sags
state of applied paint before running
sealer
a coating which improves adhesion and colour uniformity of the topcoat
solids
the pigment and non-volatile components of paint; material which remains on surface
solvent
the component of a solution which dissolves other components and facilitates the drying process
specifications
performance characteristics of products
spectrophotometer
an electronic device used for recording and measuring colour
spray gun
a tool that uses air pressure to atomize liquids and transfer them uniformly to a surface
substrate
the surface that is to be finished; it can be anything from an old finish or primer to an unpainted surface
tack cloth
a cheesecloth that has been treated to make it tacky, used to pick up dust and lint from the surface to be painted
technical data sheet (TDS)
written instructions on details of paint applications, types of products to be used, areas to be painted and painting procedure
three-stage (tri-coat)
paint application that consists of distinct paint layers that produces a pearlescent appearance: a basecoat, a tinted midcoat and clearcoat.
tint
to add colour to another colour
topcoat
the last coat of colour or clearcoat
two-stage
consists of two distinct layers of paint: basecoat and clearcoat
undercoat
a first coat: primer, primer surfacers or sealer
value
the lightness/darkness of a colour
vehicle identification number (VIN)
the number assigned to each vehicle by its manufacturer, primarily for registration and identification purposes
viscosity
consistency or body of a liquid
viscosity cup
a device to measure the viscosity of a liquid by determining the time it takes to flow through the opening of the cup
volatile
capable of evaporating easily
water-borne paint
a type of paint in which a special de-ionized, purified water is used as the carrier instead of a solvent
volatile organic compound (VOC)
carbon-containing gases and vapors having direct toxic effects on humans, ranging from carcinogenesis to neurotoxicity