Relationships between rheological properties and paint performance

Paints (surface coatings), primarily used to protect various substrates from the corroding action of acidic and alkaline substances, largely contain polymers as coating formulations. Examples of generally used polymers are: butadiene based (space), epoxy resins and silicone fluids (concrete vinyl polymers and polyurethanes (optical fibres) alkyds and acrylics (electronics) and polyester resins (wood, metal and fibre‐glass reinforcements). The binder‐pigment interaction controls important properties like hardness, flexibility, permeability, adhesion, gloss, and mechanical properties and contributes finally to the success or otherwise of the paint as a protective surface‐coating. Excellence of pigment dispersion and paint performance are thus intimately related.