Speciality coatings
At Mark Rogers Decorating we can apply all sorts of speciality coatings to suit the sector that we are working in. We have used antibacterial paints in hospitals, schools, restaurants and kitchens.
We are approved applicators for anti-graffiti paints often used in schools and colleges. We can also supply and use fire retardant paints for other sectors and industries.
Antibacterial Paints
Antibacterial paints are widely used in hospitals and healthcare facilities, however these speciality coatings can deliver a variety of benefits in other settings, such as nursing homes, food preparation areas and schools. Below is an overview of the science behind antibacterial paints and their wider applications.
Antibacterial coatings – or antimicrobial paints as they are sometimes known – have been used successfully in hospitals for a number of years to protect against the spread of superbugs such as MRSA. Bacteria such as these can be spread in many ways, including door handles and medical instruments, but a common route is via walls.
All tests were carried out by an independent laboratory using a novel procedure based on the Japanese Industrial Standard ‘Test for Anti-microbial Activity and Efficacy’ (JIS Z 2801: 2000). The novelty lies in the development of a ‘real life’ test procedure created to assess how long bacteria can survive on a paint film surface under ambient temperature and humidity conditions (20°C and 65% RH) for 24 hours.
Anti-graffiti Paints
An anti-graffiti coating is a speciality coating that prevents graffiti paint from bonding to surfaces.
Cleaning graffiti off buildings costs billions of pounds annually. Many cities have started anti-graffiti programs but vandalism is still a problem. Companies across the globe are attempting to develop speciality coatings to prevent vandals from defacing public and private property. The speciality coatings being developed can be the paint itself, or a clear coat added on top of existing paint or building facades. Depending on the substrate and the severity of graffiti, different speciality coatings give different benefits and disadvantages.
Types of anti-graffiti paint
There are two common types of paint used today. The first are water-based paints such as latex and acrylic paint, and the second are oil-based paints. The paint of choice will depend on the substrate to be painted upon and the desired end result. All paints have the same basic structure:
- Pigment – This is the part of the paint that is seen by the eye. The pigment gives the paint opacity and colour. The pigments of all paints contain a white base composed of titanium dioxide (TiO2) or zinc oxide (ZnO). Dyes are added to the pigment to attain the desired colour.
- Binder – the binder is the glue that holds the paint together. This is usually a polymer that upon drying will polymerise to keep the pigments homogeneous and adhered to the substrate.
- Solvent – this is the bulk of the paint, it is used to keep the paint workable when it is wet. After paint is applied to a surface the solvent evaporates, the pigment and binder will coalesce together to form a uniform coating. The solvent is water for water-based paints, and an oil for oil-based paints.
There actually is no chemical bond between paint and an underlying surface. Paint adheres simply through physical forces like Van der Waals. When paint is first applied to a surface it goes on as a thick wet coating. As the solvent is allowed to evaporate out, the pigment plates which are attracted to one another stack up to form layers. The binder polymerises essentially locking the pigment plates together. What you are left with is a uniform coating of binder and pigment. Anti-graffiti coatings make paints unable to adhere to the surface.
Anti-graffiti coatings can be invisible to the naked eye. There are two different categories of anti-graffiti coatings. The first, sacrificial coatings, are applied to a surface and then removed when graffiti is applied. The surface underneath will be left clean and a new sacrificial coating can be applied. The other type of coating are permanent coatings that prevent graffiti from adhering to a surface in the first place.
Newer coatings are made of charged polymeric materials that form a gel on the surface of the building or substrate. Some of the most important characteristics of anti-graffiti coatings are:
- Sufficient adherence without damage to substrates
- Hydrophobicity (water repellence)
- Environmentally friendly composition and processing
- Resistance to UV aging and weathering
- Good Cleaning Efficiency
Fire Retardant & Intumescent Paints
A Fire Retardant Paints main purpose is stopping flame and fire spreading over a given surface. They do this by releasing a flame dampening gas once they become hot. To ensure their effective they are tested against British safety standards BS 476, part 7. Once their effectiveness has been proven they can be applied to walls, floors and ceilings in any space.
Intumescent Paints work differently to fire retardant paint; instead of releasing the afore mentioned gas they char and swell up when exposed to fire. This has the effect of creating an insulating coating which in turn then protects any materials from the heat generated by the fire. These types of paints can also be know as Fire resistant Paints.
Where can They be Used?
Intumescent Paint and Fire Retardant Coatings are suitable for use on most structural building materials such as: Softwoods, like pine, larch and cedar, Hardwoods, such as oak, ash, beech and birch, MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard), Chipboard, Melamine faced sheet, Brick and Stone, Plaster and Plasterboard, Metal and Concrete.
What Finishes are Available?
There are a variety of finishes available for Fire Resistant Intumescent and fire retardant paints and coatings including Clear finishes, White finishes, Coloured finishes, Gloss, Silk, Eggshell, Matt and Metallic.