What are the precautions for using water-based aluminum paste?
Release date:
2020-09-09
What are the key precautions when using water-based aluminum paste? As environmental industry standards become increasingly stringent, the water-based coatings sector has emerged as one of the popular choices for home renovation and decoration—thanks in part to its core ingredient: water-based aluminum paste. So, what exactly should you keep in mind when working with this material? Let’s find out together as we follow along! Before diving into the usage tips, let’s first get acquainted with the characteristics of water-based aluminum paste. This metallic pigment is primarily used to impart a shimmering, metallic effect to coatings. Its production process mainly involves passivation and silica-coating techniques. Among these, the silica-coated version boasts a denser protective layer, enabling the finished paint to maintain stability for up to a year. One of the standout advantages of water-based aluminum paste lies in its excellent water resistance and superior weather durability, while also being water-soluble and emitting minimal volatile organic compounds (VOCs). As a result, it’s highly compatible with water-based coating systems. When using it, there are typically two key steps to follow: ### 1. Pre-Use Preparation: Before applying the water-based aluminum paste, ensure proper pre-dispersion. Mix the paste with deionized water (or distilled/purified water) at a ratio of approximately 1:1. Allow the mixture to soak for about 5 minutes, then gently stir until fully dispersed and homogeneous. If you’re using tap water instead, let it sit uncovered for at least 24 hours to allow any residual chlorine to dissipate naturally. This step is crucial because free chlorine ions in tap water can severely corrode the aluminum particles, compromising their performance. ### 2. Application Process: Once the aluminum paste is properly dispersed, carefully add it to your chosen resin base and begin mixing. Be mindful not to over-stir, as prolonged agitation may cause the protective coating on the aluminum particles to peel off. This could lead to direct contact between the aluminum and water, potentially generating hydrogen gas or releasing VOCs. Therefore, it’s essential to minimize both the duration and speed of stirring during this stage. That concludes our overview of the essential precautions for using water-based aluminum paste. We hope this information proves helpful! Stay tuned for more insightful industry updates in our next article—your trusted source for all things related to coatings and beyond!