Product Code Database
Spray paint (formally aerosol paint) is paint that comes in a sealed, pressurized can and is released in an aerosol spray when a valve button is depressed. The propellant is what the container of pressurized gas is called. When the pressure holding the gas is released through the valve, the aerosol paint releases as a fine spray. Aerosol painting is one form of spray painting; it leaves a smooth, even coat, unlike many traditional Paint roller and brushed paints. Aerosol primer can be applied directly to bare metal and many plastics.
Most aerosol paints also have a metal, marble, glass or plastic ball called a pea inside of the can, which is used to mix the paint when the can is shaken.
Aerosol propellants consist of flammable gas combinations that can lead to fire and explosions if they are sprayed, punctured, or exposed to flames.Aerosol propellants consist of flammable gas combinations that can lead to fire and explosions if they are sprayed, punctured, or exposed to flames.
Aerosol paint needs different types of plastic-like polymers to make it work. The most commonly used are alkyds and acrylate polymer. Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) is another substitute for acrylics. Different companies will use specific mixes of polymers and plasticizers (like dibutyl phthalate and dibutyl meleate) to make the spray paint flexible and durable.
In the 1940s, the paint industry took another step forward with the invention of the aerosol can. Originally developed by the military as a tool to dispense insecticide, aerosol systems were quickly adapted to other product categories including spray paint. In 1948, the Chase Company in Chicago became one of three businesses licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture to make aerosol mosquito repellents. Using similar technology and equipment, a few years later they became the first commercial producers of spray paint. In 1949, Edward H. Seymour, of Sycamore, Illinois, added paint to existing spray can technology at his wife Bonnie's suggestion. It was initially designed to demonstrate an Aluminium paint he developed. His patent was awarded in 1951. Spray paint has been used in modern graffiti since its origins, originating with TAKI 183's marker tagging, and expanding into spray paint.
Most brands include a wide variety of paints, including primers, heat, and traffic resistant enamels, gloss and matte finishes, metallic colors, and textured paints for home decor.
Aerosol paint is useful for quick, semi-permanent marking on construction and surveying sites. Inverted cans for street, utility or field marking can be used upside-down with an extension pole. APWA (American Public Works Association) has standardized colors for utility and excavation markings. Hiking trails can also be marked with aerosol paint Trail blazing.
Small to medium-sized repairs to automobile bodywork can be completed by enthusiasts at home using aerosol paint, though to paint an entire vehicle in this manner would be difficult and expensive. The main disadvantages, compared to a professional spray gun, include the limited quality provided by the built-in nozzle and the lack of infrared baking after applying the paint, which indicates that the paint could take several months to obtain its final hardness.
Speed, portability, and permanence make aerosol paint a common graffiti medium. In the late 1970s, street graffiti writers' signatures and murals became more elaborate and a unique style developed as a factor of the aerosol medium and the speed required for illicit work. Many now recognize graffiti and street art as a unique art form and specifically manufactured aerosol paints are made for the graffiti artist.
Graffiti artist paints tend to be more expensive, but have a wider selection of rich colors, are thicker and less likely to drip. They are produced in standard high-pressure cans for fast, thick coverage and lower pressure cans for more control and flexibility. Most art brand paints have two or three mixing peas in a can. A wide array of actuators or caps are available, from standard "skinny" caps to wider "fat" caps, as well as caps that control the softness or crispness of the spray. Calligraphy caps create fan spray instead of the standard round.
Stencils can be used multiple times for recognition and consistency. Official stencils can be used to quickly and clearly label objects, vehicles or locations. Graffiti writers can use stencils to quickly mark in busy places or leave recognizable tags over a large area. Stencil artists often use multiple colors, or create elaborate stencils that are works of art in themselves.
Aerosol paint is not recyclable and should be emptied before discarding as they can explode risking harm to sanitation workers and pollution. This can be accomplished by fully emptying the can or with official waste management locations.
A major challenge that the aerosol spray paint industry faces includes environmental regulations meant to control VOC emissions and global warming, legal issues regarding safety labeling, and continued product abuse by graffiti artists.
Graffiti is removed through four main methods. The first is pulsed laser cleaning (PLC). Some common methods include using pressurized water or chemical treatments. Another method is covering up the graffiti with a coat of paint, though this is not an ideal method since it causes heavy paint build-up and leaves an obvious patch of paint that draws the eye. When removing paint, the following factors need to be taken into account: pigment (what material(s) make up the color and opacity), binder (what holds the paint together), and solvents and polymer additive.
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