By Mrs.

Adetoun Tijani
Head, Quality Control Laboratory,
Portland Paints & Products Nig. Plc

Quality control is a procedure/set of

procedures carried out to ensure that a
manufactured product/performed service
adheres to a defined set of criteria/standard
values, before, during and after
manufacturing, to ensure customer
satisfaction and conformance with statutory
regulations.
The raw materials, manufacturing process
and finished products undergo stringent QC
checks.

Paints can be defined as a liquid, paste, or powder

products which when applied on a substrate, dries to
form a thin layer and serves for informative, decorative
and protective purposes.
Paints is a mixture (not a compound).
Paint is different from DYE.
The term colorant is often used for both Dyes and
Pigments. i.e. substances that impart color.
Dyes are chemicals /organic compounds, that are
dissolved in a medium, to impart color and are
absorbed into the material to which they are applied.
Coating is a general term denoting a material that is
applied to a surface (e.g. Paint, Varnish)
Paint is pigmented, while varnish refers to clear
lacquer/pigment-free coating.

Paints is made up of numerous components

which are PEARS. i.e.

Pigment
Extender
Additives
Resins/Binder
Solvent

Pigments are
responsible for color,
covering power and
anti-corrosive
properties.
Pigments are finely
ground crystalline
solids that are
dispersed/ suspended
in the paint. They may
be organic, in-organic
and metallic.

The most widely used

pigment is TiO2, due
to its excellent hiding
property. Other e.g.
are carbon black,
FeO, CdS for red,
metallic salts for
yellow and orange.

Extenders, also known as Fillers are largely finely

ground crystalline solids that are dispersed in the
paint, added to reduce cost of production, by
replacing expensive pigments in paint.
Fillers give the paint body / make the paint bulky
and improves flow ( i.e. less sagging on
application).
They are used as matting agents (control gloss
level), to provide matt or semi-gloss finishes e.g.
are CaCO3, kaolin, talc, clay (Al silicates), sand,
marble dust etc.

Additives are added to modify certain properties of

paint. Examples are:
Driers accelerate drying of paints. They are
basically metals, which catalyses the oxidation
and polymerization of film in solvent-based
paints. E.g. Pb, Ca, Co, Mn driers. However, Pb is
no longer in use due to high toxicity; but
zirconium is now used instead.
Anti-settling Agent - to prevent pigment settling.
Anti-Skinning Agent- control skinning (ensures
paint do not skin). i.e. oximes

Defoamers - reduce formation of bubbles

during manufacturing, and breaks bubbles as
they are formed in the paint
Biocides / Preservatives (IN-CAN/DFP) prevents smelling of paint while in the
container and growth of moulds /algae/fungi
on paint after it has been applied.
Wetting & Dispersing Agent - are surfactants,
that assists in moistening (wetting) the
pigment, hence, easier to grind & disperse.
They prevent flocculation of the pigment
particles {ensuring uniformity}

Thickeners- makes the paint easy to

apply.
Neutralizing Agents- are used in
waterborne paints to neutralize and
stabilize paints. E.g Ammonia
Co-Solvent- increases the hardness of
the film, enhances flow. E.g in waterbased paints, the co-solvent is
texanol; Butyl Glycol- gloss paints.

Binder is a polymeric substance, mostly

gummy in nature. They bind components
together & make it stay on the substrate.
Binder is the actual film-forming component
of a paint.
Binders improve the paints resistance to
moisture permeability, sunlight exposure,
staining, cracking, damage from abrasion &
adhesion to the surface.
Binder/Resin may be natural or synthetic.
Examples of natural resins are: linseed oil,
soya beans oil, coconut oil.

Examples of popular synthetic resins are:

Alkyds, Acrylics, Epoxies, Polyurethane etc.
Alkyd resins: most commonly used in
solvent-based paints, e.g. gloss paints, heat
cured stoving enamel paints.
Poly Vinyl Acetate & Acrylic binders: are
water-based binders.
Epoxy resins: Epoxy resins are applied as
base coats, which prevents corrosion (tanks
(fuel)and prevents friction (factory floor).
Epoxy resins are also useful in marine
application.

 Polyurethanes: Polyurethane - based paints are tough,

with durable films that retain their gloss & are easy to
clean. Polyurethane paints are applied as topcoats and
are often used for painting aircraft.
Silicon resin: are used for chiming machine (generates
lots of heat)
Polyester resin: used for roofing sheet.

Note: Epoxies/ Polyurethane paints are two-packed

coatings that polymerize by way of a chemical reaction
initiated by mixing the paint & curing agent/hardener at
the point of use and which cure by forming a hard
plastic structure.

Solvent is also known as CARRIER / DILUENT

/THINNER
Solvents are low viscosity, volatile liquids.
They dissolve the binder & hold it in suspension
with the paints pigment.
Ensures even-mixing of the paint components&
makes the paint easy to apply.
They are used to reduce the viscosity of paint for
better flow & application.
Examples of solvents are water, MEK- methylethyl-ketone, MIBK- methyl-iso-butyl-ketone,
Xylene, Toluene, Butyl-acetate, Butyl-glycol,
kerosene. e.t.c.

Paint manufacturing process is just like making

semo / amala at home.
The 1st thing should be ensuring that foodstuff
(raw materials) are available.
Then, work instruction/batch sheet is issued,
based on the quantity of raw materials available
& sales request.
Next thing is to ensure that the pot/container
and HSD/Grinding machine is very clean.
However, manufacturing instruction has to be
adhered to in order to achieve the desired
results. {For instance, if u want to make amala, u
dont pour your elubo in an empty pot on fire
and start adding water; rather u put little quantity
of water, allow to boil & then add your elubo}

Water based paints is processed in a HSD

(high-speed dispersion) tank, in which a
circular, toothed blade attached to a
rotating shaft agitates the mixture of
pigment, extenders, wetting & dispersing
agents, little quantity of water, and
defoamer; until the pigment particles are
fully dispersed.

Once the dispersion is certified okay, by the

Quality Control, the temperature of the
mixture is controlled to 300c, before adding
the binder & other raw materials remaining in
the Batch sheet.
The paint is then mixed and sampled to the
laboratory to check Quality Control
parameters (viscosity, S.G, Colour, Opacity,
drying, texture -consistency, gloss/sheen,
NVC etc) to ensure conformance with the set
standard.

 Thinning

& Tinting occurs.

Once the paint is certified okay by
QC, it is then PASSED & PACKED
as finished product. However, QC
ensures that packaging containers
are properly labelled, free from
dirt & that products are packed to
level.

The first step in making oil-based paint involves

mixing the pigment/fillers with little resin, little
solvent, wetting and dispersing agent to form a
paste.
It is then routed into a sand mill/grinding machine
(a large cylinder that agitates/grinds the
pigment/filler particles, making them smaller and
dispersing them throughout the mixture).
After about 30minutes, the fineness of grind is
checked by the Quality Control Personnel. If okay,
the paint is discharged & made-up. At this stage,
the remaining raw materials yet to be added are
added.

Thinning & Tinting then starts.

Quality Control parameters (viscosity, S.G,
Colour, Opacity, drying, gloss/sheen, NVC
etc.) are checked to ensure conformance with
the set standard.
Once the paint is certified okay by QC, it is
then PASSED & PACKED as finished product.
However, QC has to ensure that packaging
containers are properly labelled, free from
dirt and that products are packed to level.

Specific gravity
PH: 7.5 9.0
Dispersion/ Fineness of Grind
Viscosity determined by Ford Cup/B4
cup (seconds) for low viscous products
and Rotothinner (Poises) for highly
viscous products.
Bleed resistance/ flocculation
Drying

The Texture of the paint is determined by

applying it on the wall using a Texcote roller to
check for sagging.
Color using spectrophotometer
Opacity/ Hiding power is measured by painting it
over a black surface and a white surface. The
ratio of coverage on the black surface to
coverage on the white surface is then
determined.
Non-volatile matter
Gloss/Sheen is measured by determining the
amount of reflected light given off a painted
surface, using a Gloss meter.

Adhesion is tested by making a

crosshatch on a dried paint surface. A
piece of tape is applied to the
crosshatch, and then pulled off. A
good paint will remain on the surface.
Resistance to soapy water is tested by
a machine that rubs a soapy brush
over the paint's surface. Wet
Abrasion Scrub Tester

Weathering/ Resistance of the color to

fading is determined by exposing a
portion of a painted surface to
outdoor conditions i.e. sunlight,
water, extreme temperature, humidity,
and comparing the amount of fading
to a painted surface that was not
exposed.

Stability Test
Coarse particle/ foreign matter stick, rope,
sack etc.
Flash Point is the temperature at which the
mixture of the paint vapour and air, can
ignite in the presence of a spark. The higher
the flash point, the safer a solvent-based
paint is considered for storage.

S/N
1.
2.
3.

DEFECTS
Settling
Paint Separation
Foaming

CAUSES
Low dispersion
Incompatibility
Mixing at high speed,
insufficient defoamer.
Micro-organisms

4.

Foul smell/
Mould growth

5.

Sagging, no
Too much water, sand omitted
texture/ pattern

6.
7.

Low viscosity
High Viscosity

Excess solvent
Insufficient solvent

S/N

DEFECTS

High Specific
gravity
Low Specific
9.
gravity
10. Foreign matter
8.

11. Chalking (is the

progressive
powdering of the
paint film on the
painted surface).

CAUSES
Insufficient solvent
Excess solvent, foaming

Adding foreign contaminants

without manufacturers
specification (lead to film defect)
Polymer degradation of the paint
matrix, due to exposure from UV
radiation.

S/N DEFECTS
12. Erosion (Erosion
is a very quick
chalking)
13. Peeling/Blisterin
g
14. Cracking

CAUSES
due to external agents like
rainfall
Improper surface treatment
before application& dampness
present in the substrate.
When paint coatings are not
allowed to cure/dry completely
before the next coat is applied.

S/N DEFECTS
15. Pigment
Flocculation

16. Tacking/ not

drying
17. Skinning
18. Low sheen

CAUSES
The pigment, after
dispersion, reverts to a
greater or lesser degree,
when rubbed. (Colour
change)
Insufficient drier
Absence of anti-skinning
agent, excess drier
Excess pigment/extender

Quality control is the process of finding out

the outcome of the product produced if it
conforms to the standard procedures or not
and if it will meet up with market demands.
It is the heart of every organization.
Note that a poor or adulterated raw material
and a wrong manufacturing process will
never produce a good product hence quality
checks on raw materials and finished
products are very essential in order to get
the desired benefits from such products.

 Quality

checks says a lot about

the image of any organization.
Above all the quality of a
product should NEVER be
compromised.