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Objective of this session ……………….

“To understand correct handling of paints and chemicals and hazards

associated with the same”

Why do we need to understand the chemistry of paints????????

As paint is hazardous for user as well as environment, one should have

the thorough knowledge of constituents of paints and their chemical
properties and this is must for safe use, storage and disposal.

Components of Paint
The exact composition of a particular paint is often complex and
proprietary. In general, however, most paints contain the following.

 Pigment(s)
 Binder(or Resin)
 Solvent(s)
 Additives(s)

Pigments
Paint pigments are small, hard particles that come in a wide variety of
shapes. Their principal functions are
 To provide color as required by the appearance
of the finished product
 To cover the substrate since most binders, by
themselves, are more or less translucent
 To improve the durability and to reduce gloss
 To modify flow and application properties

Examples of pigments

 Titanium oxide
 Iron oxide
 Calcium sulfate
 Clay or Silicates

Binders
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The paint binder (or resin) is the solid material that forms the bulk of
the paint film. It is generally a tough, amorphous polymeric material
that gives the paint most of its thermal, mechanical, and weathering
properties.

Examples of binders
 Linseed
 Acrylic
 Alkyds
 Epoxies
 Vinyl resins
Comparative study of some common paint binders

Binder Heat Chemical & Weather Resistance

Resistance Acid Alkali Solvent Water
Acrylics Medium Fair Good Very Very
Good Good
Alkyds Medium Fair Poor Poor Fair
Epoxies High Fair Good Varies Fair
Vinyl Medium Very Very Poor Very
resin Good Good Good
Solvents
The paint solvent is a pure or mixed blend of liquid that is used to make
the paint flowable and give it the proper viscosity before its application.
After the paint film has dried, usually by baking, the solvent is no longer
present.
Examples of solvents
 Toluene
 Xylene
 Water

Additives

Additives are modifiers added to paint, usually in small quantities, to

achieve special effects. They modify the properties of either the wet film
or the dried paint and can affect flexibility, color fastness, gloss, solvent
resistance, graffiti resistance, conductivity etc.
General Safety Information
All paints or thinners are a combination of chemicals, most of which are
hazardous, e.g. organic solvents, epoxy resins, isocyanates etc. These
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chemicals have the potential to cause skin, eye, nose and throat irritation
and individuals demonstrate a wide variation in their degree of tolerance
to them. Some may have no immediate problems, but others may
develop dermatitis or other allergic reactions on contact with only small
amounts.

In order to prevent hazardous effect of paints, the user must avoid the
direct contact with these chemicals by taking the following measures:

 Use of Protective Equipments

By wearing solvent impermeable gloves, Overalls, face masks etc.

 Use of Barrier Cream

These should be applied to the forearms, face etc. and used as a
complement to protective clothing.
Use a non-greasy type of barrier cream.

 Personal Hygiene
The following should be observed in order to avoid irritation,
sensitization or any other health problems:

 Persons with known skin sensitivity or a previous skin

condition should be excluded from using or applying paints
unless medical permission has been obtained.
 Food and drink should not be consumed, stored or prepared
in areas where paint is stored or applied
 Do not smoke whilst using or applying paints
 Use re-fatting or moisturizing creams at the end of the shift.
 Do not cuts and abrasions to paints and solvents.

 Correct Mixing Equipment

Mix all solvent based products in a well ventilated area. The use of
a power mixer will enable the operators to keep their head a
suitable distance from the mix, as during this time high
concentration of fumes are emitted.

STORAGE AND TRANSPORT

 Paints and solvents are stored in approved containers and areas.

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 Containers are kept closed when not in use.

 Only closed containers are used for transport or storage.
 Incompatible chemical products (which may cause a hazardous
reaction if they come in contact) are not stored together.
 Smoking is prohibited in flammable liquid storage areas.
 Flammable liquids are not stored near sources of ignition (sparks,
electricity, flames, or hot objects).
 Where more than 25 gallons of flammable liquids are present in
small containers, they are kept in a storage cabinet approved by
the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
 Indoor storage areas for flammable liquids are ventilated and have
one clear aisle, at least three feet wide.
 Flammable liquids stored outdoors are at least 50 feet from the
property line and 10 feet from any public way. ]
 Outdoor storage areas are graded to divert possible spills away
from buildings.
 No flammable liquids are carried with explosives in vehicle cargo
space.

Marine paint at Glance

Marine paints have been used over a years to protect ships from
weathering and biological and chemical degradation.

In order to obtain the right marine paint quality various substances

increasing the anticorrosive, antifouling, mechanical flexibility,
weatherability, chemical and cold resistance properties were added.
Many of the additives that have been used and are still being used today
are toxic compounds for man and other species. Spills of paint residues
and leakage from painted objects will eventually be deposited in the sea
sediments and will therefore potentially pose a threat to the marine
environment. Biocides and various other additives used in antifouling
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paints seem to give the most serious problems ranked according to

impact on marine life.

Antifouling paints are designed to give a thin boundary layer in the

water around the hull were the concentration of antifouling agent is high
enough to kill algae and other organisms that would otherwise remain
attached to the hull. This increases the frictional resistance against water
and thereby reduces ship speeds.

Biocides and Anticorrosive additives in marine paint

The marine paints used in the earlier days were contained soluble
matrix. As a result biocides from the paint was released and life time of
the paint was none commercial and environmental pollutant. In these
paints heavy metals like mercury, arsenic were used as biocides and Cd,
Cr, and lead were used as anticorrosive components.

Nowadays, we are using insoluble matrix based antifouling paints. In

these paints Cu2O and organic biocides like Diuron and Zineb are
added. This marine paint has a life time of 5 years. This increased life
time is due to the covalent bonding of the organic biocides.

Paint removal and waste handling

There are two ways of removing old paint and fouling from the hull,
sand blasting or the use of high pressure water washing.

Waste from sand blasting is generally collected and handled in proper

ways todays, but in the past the greater part of this waste was drained to
the harbour basin.

Prevention of further contamination of the marine environment in

harbours requires collection of as much as possible of the paint residues
from sand blasting, high pressure water cleaning and paint scraping
during ship repairs.

Removal of contaminated sediment is probably more costly and not

near as effective as preventive measures at the source. Even if all the
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waste is collected at ship repair yards, toxic compounds in antifouling

paints will be released continuously from the hull and contaminate
harour sediments. It is therefore necessary to develop antifouling paints
containing toxic compounds, which have specific effects on target
organisms and are easily degraded in the environment.

EFFECT ON MARINE LIFE

At Haakonsvern Naval Base fish and shell fish have elevated levels of
PCB and mercury. PCB and organomercury are bio-accumalators as
organisms have low ability to degrade them. The organo tin compounds
has caused imposex in some species of mussel and snails.

VENTILATION
The workspace should provided with adequate ventilation so as to keep
fumes to a minimum. To avoid the inhalation of solvent fumes or paint
vapours and dust the following precautions must be taken:

 In spaces which are difficult to ventilate an air fed hood or mask

should be used.
 Never use a rag over the mouth as a filter. They are poor filters
and liable to become soaked and allow paint to come into direct
contact with the mouth.
 Always consider where fumes are being ventilated to. Solvent
fumes are heavier than air and push breathable air outwards.
They can flow down drains and ventilation ducts and affect the
people in the adjacent spaces.
 Dizziness, drunkenness or headache are indicators that you may
be affected by solvent fumes. Move toan area of fresh air and
donot return until ventilation has improved.
 Never enter an area where fumes have accumulated without
having breathing apparatus
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