Heat resistant enamel - what is it?
It starts with how this enamel is made. Its composition is somewhat more complicated than that of the usual paints familiar to us, which were used more than once for repairs. There are more components, and their formula is much more intricate. The silicone-based varnish is used as a basis in any solvent, various fillers and pigments are added therein, which form a slurry. From the combination of the last two, additional properties of the coating depend.
So, distinguish paint exclusively for ferrous or non-ferrous metals, there are also combined compositions. The enamel can be anticorrosive or chemically resistant. Also, the paint is resistant to water and atmospheric phenomena, it is usually used for painting heating mains or oil and gas pipelines. Pigments are responsible for the color, most often the enamel is heat-resistant black and white, these are the most popular colors, but it is not difficult to find exotics, if you need to withstand a certain color range, for example, in a room or a bath.
Heat-resistant enamel for metal is primarily intended to protect from the harmful effects of high temperatures. In general, such paints are able to withstand from minus 50 to plus 600 degrees Celsius, but this range is differently distributed among certain types of this product, and not typical for all without exception. Therefore, you have to select the product specifically for your working range. This exceptional ability of the coating to resist the heat is in metal powder, more often aluminum, which allows evenly distribute and remove heat to the outside, without compromising the integrity of the part and its coating.
Resistance to high temperatures is available, but what is the nature of this temperature capable of withstanding heat-resistant enamel? There are also nuances here, because , wet or dry steam can become hot from open fire. It is these criteria that divide the colors, so it's worth paying attention to this, coming to the store.
Heat-resistant enamel for metal - we prepare for work
We clean the surface of metal, on which we will apply a coating. Perhaps the main disadvantage is the old paint. It can be removed with special compounds, even if it lies in several layers, and it is more than one year old than anyone remembers. The rag is simply wetted with a solvent and applied to the metal, after a couple of hours the paint can be easily removed. It is also important to remove rust, dirt, dust, grease from the surface. Particularly relevant is the issue of dirt and dust for old batteries, the shape of which does not allow them to be fully cleaned. But this time you have to contrive.
After cleaning the surface, must be degreased right before use by any solvent( acetone, xylene, etc.).The paint should be mixed thoroughly, because when stored, it is guaranteed to form a sediment in which the most valuable components for its heat resistance are collected, so spare no time and stir until all the deposits in the bottom of the can disappear completely. If the paint is already ready, it seems too thick( if you want, you can measure the viscosity of the devices), then dilute it with the solvent to the desired consistency.
Heat-resistant enamel - we paint correctly
You can apply the paint by any tool, be it a brush, roller or sprayer, the main thing is to observe the safety measures, both personal and technical, because around the solvents and varnishes, fairly easily flammable liquids. You can work in a wide range of temperatures: from minus 20 to plus 40 degrees Celsius.
In work, protect the respiratory system, ensure ventilation by the ventilator, and do not expose to open flames.
If the work is done in a room where the minus temperature is important, it is important to separate, so that frost does not form on the surface, since the paint does not tolerate moisture in any form, the more the paint is warmer and it will melt frost under it.
When the object to be painted has a complex shape and many hard-to-reach places, they are treated with enamel( in the case of paint spraying) before the brushing begins, then the whole surface will be covered.
The enamel is applied in 2-3 layers( depends on the method of painting, the thickness of the layer, the polymerization regime and the conditions for further operation).Naturally, between them it must dry, so as not to cling a brush with fresh paint. It may take different time depending on the temperature in the working room, on average, about 2 hours. After finishing the painting, the complete drying also depends on the ambient temperature, usually the modes are indicated on the package.
If the coating will be used later under some extreme conditions, for example, in acids, the paint should be dried in a separate mode to "harden" it. This is done at a high temperature, in the range of 250-400 degrees Celsius, the drying time then decreases to 20 minutes.