Latex, Acrylic Latex and 100% Acrylic Paint
Water-Based Paints Are Different in Price, Quality and Technology
Jul 29, 2009
Paint manufacturers are forever evolving product lines to offer more washability, better color acceptance, greater versatility and ease of application. These terms are easy to understand once the basics are broken down. Unfortunately, many paint store employees know little about these differences.
Unless the company has a comprehensive product knowledge (PK) training program, the main point initially driven home is that each of these can be cleaned up with water. It isn't enough with today's savvy consumer but it is a good place to start.
Water-Based Latex Paint Technology Was a Breakthrough
In the manufacturing process, all paint products that can be cleaned up with water typically start with water when made. In the early days of commonly found latex or water-based paints, roughly forty-five years ago, these early formulations were based on PVA (polyvinyl acetate).
To simplify, the closest definition to this base ingredient is glue. PVA was and is one of the most common forms of base for water-soluble glues. Paints that don't suggest any other base or vehicle in the formula are most likely quite inexpensive and on the lower scale of quality. However, when they were first introduced into the marketplace, they revolutionized house painting like few products had done before. No oil smell, quick dry times and water clean up! Yet, even with this breakthrough, latex still had a long way to go.
Acrylic Latex Paint and 100% Pure Acrylic Paint Is Not The Same
Acrylic latex and pure acrylics were some of the new hybrids of water-based technologies, becoming very popular to manufacture in the late seventies and early eighties. Not only were these everything the old latex products were, now they were flexible as well and tough, too! The exceptional flexibility of the new acrylic latexes came from the vehicle, a chemical emulsion extremely similar to liquid plexiglas.
The idea of not being able to paint over oil-based paint with a water-based product became old school thinking; the chemistry of these new acrylics, combined with a little sanding in advance, allowed for just that. This became a blessing at the time for anyone painting an older home coated with oil-based paint on the walls and millwork.
When shopping for water-based acrylics, keep in mind the differences in quality. Something labeled Acrylic Latex won't have the same degree of flexibility or durability as a product marked 100% Pure Acrylic. If the labeling is vague and you're unsure, check the price. Anything that states it is 100% Acrylic is of very high quality and, with good reason, will likely cost considerably more.
Water-Borne Paint Is Manufactured With a Special Technology
Water-Borne paints are still reasonably unknown to the average consumer. These use a specific technology in which oils are chemically introduced into the water in such a way that they are compatible, meaning oil and water can mix if it's done correctly. Many clear floor coatings, varnishes and even two-component epoxies and urethanes are now manufactured this way.
Several of the quality virtues of oil-based paints can be enjoyed while still maintaining water clean up. An increasing number of companies have chosen to switch their on-site painting to water-bornes. Much of this is due to more strictly enforced safety and environmental guidelines by government departments responsible for occupational health and safety as well as consumer and corporate affairs.
Reputable paint manufacturers have sections of their websites devoted to New Technology or Developing Product Lines or R&D (Research and Development). Do some research and discover what is available in your area. If you're unsure how to interpret the information you find, visit one of the local paint stores and ask questions of the resident expert. Get the information to make an informed decision about the products that will be right for you.
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