Paint

Paint has been around since the dawn of Man, from the early cave wall pictures to the ancient Greek pottery to the Italian Renaissance to Present day; paint production is of the same materials now as it was when they were first created by the cavemen. Pigments are what create the textures and colors of paint, pigments are solids that are grinded up into dust and formed into a liquid using a binder. Within all the vibrant colors that have been used over many centuries, paint is a compound that has many universal uses.

Pigments are special properties that incorporate color and texture into paint. Pigments are normally classified into two categories, natural and synthetic; natural pigments are divided into various clays, calcium carbonate, mica, silicas, and talcs, synthetic pigments normally include engineered molecules, which include calcined clays, blanc fixe, precipitated calcium carbonate, and synthetic pyrogenic silicas. Certain special pigments are used as well, such as hiding pigments which atribute to protection from ultraviolet light; examples include titanium dioxide, phthalo blue and red iron oxide. Another example of special pigments is fillers which increase the thickness of the paint ultimately creating a greater volume and a more stable structure; cheap materials are normally used as fillers, such as diatomaceous earth, talc, lime, barytes, clay, etc. Some pigments have been known to be deadly; the greatest example would be lead, which is used in lead paint, for obvious reasons lead was soon replaced with titanium dioxide. Even though pigments are widely used, it is not the material that forms the whole structure; it is simply there to add detail.

Binders, the forming component of paint, also referred to as the only component that must be present and like pigments there are natural and synthetic binders, which include cement, alkyds, acrylics, vinyl-acrylics, vinyl acetate/ethylene, polyurethanes, polyesters, melamine resins, epoxy, or oils. Binders are categorized in accordance to drying or curing mechanism. A curing mechanism is an agent which causes polymerization, a chemical reaction that in term creates a three dimensional picture. Drying, to simply put it, refers to solvent evaporation, so curing and drying are two different processes. Depending on the chemistry of the components, some paints can undergo one or the other, sometimes both; thus there are paints that dry only, those that dry then cure, and those that do not depend on drying for curing. Paints that can simply dry contain a binder called lacquers, this is used when solvent evaporates where lacquers form a solid. Curing processes are caused by oxidative cross linking, catalyzed/cross linked polymerization, and coalescence. With all its chemical properties, paint has had a long history of creating vibrant images and imagination.

Paint dates back to the early Stone Age, where the first paintings were made on the walls of caves. Back then there were only six colors for which to use, lime white, yellow ochre, red ochre, umber, bone black, and carbon black, all of which are still used today. Paint was also used by the Greeks which were used to add color to their pottery; this was the same deal for the Romans since they were vastly similar to the Greeks. Other notable sites are Egypt, home of the pyramids where inside are hieroglyphics and many great painted treasures. Another site is the Italian renaissance, home of the famous painters Michelangelo Buonarroti and Leonardo da vinci. Michelangelo Buonarroti was a famous painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer; one of his most famous feats was painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Leonardo da vinci was another famous renaissance artist who constructed the Mona Lisa, one of the most famous paintings in the world, which to this day is kept in the Louve located in France. Before the Modern age, paint used to be constructed by hand, but now with today’s factories paint production has increased sufficiently. Also in the modern time, paint has evolved into many categories; picture paint, which is used to create pieces of art as is paints history, home décor paint, which is used as a “do it yourself” manner, and spray paint, which is used to decorate cars and other vehicles, and is also used by notorious gangs in a manner of “marking territory”, this is commonly illegal as it is referred to as vandalism of public property. With its rich history, paint is defiantly a great asset of human existance.

With all the centuries that have passed, the vibrant colors of paint have many universal uses. From the chemical compounds of pigments and binders, to the great history that has revolved around the Stone Age to the modern times, paint is one of mankind’s greatest creations, and the only one to still be in use. I hope taking the time to read this has helped you better understand paint as writing this has helped me.