International Paint Colour Codes April 21, 2010
Posted by admin in : Colour Chart, Marine Paints , 1 comment so far
International Paint Colour Codes
Some readers (and applicators) are confused with International Paint’s colour coding system. I hope this post can clear the air a wee bit.
International Marine and Protective Coatings use a standard system to denote colour. All the standard colours are represented by a alphabet followed by 3 numbers. For example :
- Signal Green is L549
- Yellow is B134
- Storm Gray is K724
This nomenclature works across product types. Polyurethanes, epoxies and alkyds all use the same system to denote colour. To differentiate the product category, the colour code is preceded by 2 alphabets. Polyurethanes use PH while epoxies use EC. Single pack topcoats use CL. Some examples are :
- ECB134 is epoxy yellow (Intergard)
- PHL549 is PU Signal Green (Interthane)
A good portion of International products follow this coding system.
Hempel Colour Chart October 26, 2008
Posted by admin in : Colour Chart, Marine Paints , 8comments
Hempel Marine Colour Card
I receive many enquiries for Hempel Marine Paint. I have uploaded the colour card for reference. Before that, a brief introduction.
Hempel is one of the top brands in marine coatings. First established in 1915 in Denmark, Hempel has grown into a worldwide leader in marine paints. It has 20 factories worldwide plus 130 stock distribution points, supported by 47 sales offices. In Singapore, Hempel office is located at 25 Tuas Ave 11.
The colour card is a PDF file. You would need to have Adobe PDF Reader installed first. If you do not have the reader, download the latest version here.
Click here to open the colour card
Nippon Marine Paint Colour Card July 13, 2008
Posted by admin in : Colour Chart, Marine Paints , 1 comment so far
(click picture for Colour Card)
The Nippon Marine Coating Colour Card has been uploaded. The standard colours use the BS (British Standards) system. The Technical Datasheet and the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for the topcoat are already available here.
Jotun Epoxy Paint (Penguard Topcoat) June 19, 2008
Posted by admin in : Marine Paints, Recommendations , 3commentsI’ve been asked on many occasions to recommend good epoxy paints for concrete floors. I can name a few from past projects, such as Ameron’s
Amerlock 400, Berger,s Epilux 218 and Nippon’s Copon EA4. I have added another to my range. I do that when a product solves a problem I have. For Amerlock, it was its surface-tolerance. For Epilux 218, it was its sheen. For Copon EA4, it was its stock availability. Jotun Penguard Topcoat qualifies for its performance and colour. I’ve seen completed projects and results are usually quite good. Also, most colours in the RAL range, the BS range and the NCS range can be produced. For the uninitiated, that’s easily a thousand colours.
Jotun Penguard is a two-pack epoxy topcoat based on a polyamide-cured epoxy resin. In other words, it is an epoxy base with a polyamide curing agent. Epoxies are heavy-duty coatings and are much more lasting than conventional coatings such as alkyd paints. When fully cured, which takes about 3 days for this product at 35 degress Celsius, it is very hard and tough. It is resistant to water, chemicals, oils and many types of solvents.
Some Technical Details
Penguard has a volume solid of 50%, DFT of 50 microns when dry and 100 microns when wet, a theoretical coverage of 10sq m per litre, dries in 4 hours at 35 degrees Celsius and can be re-coated after 3 hours. Like I mentioned earlier, it only becomes fully cured after 3 days. Pot life is 8 hours at 23 degrees. I suppose it gets reduced to about 1 - 2 hours at 35 degrees. It is a good practice to always do the mixing of any 2-pack products in a very cool place so as to prolong the pot life. Remember never to mix more than you can paint on. Once mixed, 2-pack products cannot be kept longer than the pot life.
Priming
On concrete flooring, besides the standard surface preparation, I would recommend priming with Jotun Penguard Primer. The primer is white in colour and can be top-coated in 2 hours (assuming 35 degress Celsius and good ventilation).
Colours
Penguard Topcoat is available in its standard 40 colours (see colour card here), and can also be tinted to over a thousand colours from the BS, RAL or the NCS range. Some colours, especially the dark ones, cannot be reproduced. So, please check first. Price Depending on whether it is a standard colour or a premium colour, the price ranges from $60 - $80 per 5-litre set (this consists of a 4-litre base and a 1-litre curing agent)
Let us talk about Natural Color System or NCS next time we meet….
Fluorescent paint vs Luminous paint June 1, 2008
Posted by admin in : Marine Paints, Painting Tips , 7commentsThere is a general misunderstanding with the terms fluorescent paint (not to mention the common misspelling of the word) and luminous paint. Most people when asking for or referring to luminous paint actually mean paint that glow in the dark. Fluorescent paint does not glow in the dark. It requires light to glow. Paint that glow in the dark are actually phosphorescent paint. Let me offer my view of the terminology. Luminous paint is a grouping of paint that basically "glow", regardless whether they do it in the light or in the dark or by themselves. Within this group of paint are the fluorescent paint (glow-in-the-light), the phosphorescent paint (glow-in-the-dark), and the radioluminescent paint (radioactive, self-glowing). Fluorescent paints are widely used in industries for purpose of marking. In some countries, these are also known as UV Fluorescent Paint or Blacklight Paint. Under UV or blacklight, the sensitive pigments embedded in the fluorescent paint absorbs the UV light and emits off visible light, thus causing the "glow". This paint is available in 1-litre and 5-litre pack sizes and comes in a handful of colours, the most common of which are yellow, green, orange and red. In my line, I’ve seen practical applications in road-marking, in safety signages, and in marine buoy markings. Fluorescent paint can either be water-based or solvent-based. Phosphorescent paints are also used for markings and signages. However, one increasingly popular application is in novelty items. Toys and wall-coverings coated with the paint or have materials mixed with phosphorescent powder make very eye-catching gift items. Have you come across soft rubber cut-outs of shapes of planets and stars glued on ceilings of children’s room? They glow when the lights are off and give children their first taste of star-gazing. These are materials that contain phosphorescent pigments such as zinc sulfide or strontium. Though these pigments or paints glow in the dark, they actually have to be "charged" with light. The pigments in the paint absorbs the light and when the lights are off, slowly emits light. Phosphorescent paint are not easily available locally. I used to have a few cans in stock but they had rather limited shelf-life. They hardened after about 6 months even though they were not opened. They were promptly discarded. Radioluminescent paints were used in the past on clocks, watches, compass, toys, fish baits, weapon aiming site etc. Due to its radioactivity, its application is presently rather limited. I have not come across radioluminescent paint in Singapore. I’m also not aware if this stuff can be brought in in your usual Fedex packing. Certain certification would probably be required. Of the 3 types of luminous paint, the most common here must be blacklight paint or fluorescent paint. However, the fluorescent product we are most familiar with is not the paint, but the pen - the common highlighter!
