Paint technology


Cross-linking chemistry – cross-linking chemistry is a key technology used to enhance the durability of scrubbable paint. Cross-linking agents are added to the paint formulation to create chemical bonds between individual polymer chains, resulting in a more cohesive and resilient coating. This cross-linking process improves the paint’s resistance to abrasion, chemicals, and UV radiation, extending its life and maintaining its appearance.


Nano-particle technology – some scrubbable paints incorporate nano-particle technology, where microscopic particles are dispersed throughout the paint matrix to reinforce its structure and enhance durability. Nano-particles, such as alumina, increase the paint’s hardness, scratch resistance, and overall durability, making it more resilient to damage from impacts and abrasion.


Enhanced pigments – the pigments used in scrubbable paint formulations are carefully selected for their durability and colourfastness. High-quality pigments with excellent light stability and weather resistance ensure that the paint maintains its colour and appearance over time, even in harsh environmental conditions. Additionally, the dispersion of pigments within the paint is optimized to minimise colour fading and ensure uniform coverage.


Flexible additives – flexibility is a crucial attribute of scrubbable paint, especially in applications where the painted surface may experience expansion, contraction, or movement. Flexible additives, such as elastomeric polymers, are incorporated into the paint formulation to impart elasticity and flexibility to the coating. This flexibility allows the paint to accommodate substrate movement without cracking or peeling, ensuring long-term durability and performance.


With superior resistance to abrasion, fading, and staining, durable paints require less frequent touch-ups and maintenance, reducing the need for disruptive renovations and associated costs. This is the key consideration for those responsible for care home cyclical maintenance. By investing in highly durable paints, care homes can achieve greater longevity for their interiors while still providing the colours and look achieved by traditional paints. The false economy of using less-


34


durable paints becomes clear when traded against the reduction in labour and material costs of shorter maintenance cycles. Durable paints are an investment that save money in the grand scheme of maintaining your care home and should always be considered for high traffic areas.


The future of smart paints As we look to the future, research and development departments from many paint brands are looking for even better, greener and smarter ways paint can transform spaces.


With environmental impacts now


a key consideration in the majority of construction and design projects, it is no surprise the technological advancements in more eco-friendly and air purifying paints is progressing rapidly. As these new generation of air purifying paints dry, the active ingredients absorb CO2


as they cure,


to improve the air quality. Some can also purify up to 70 per cent of formaldehyde from the atmosphere during this process. These paints are already on the market and are often verified BRE environmental products.


There is currently significant investment in the US in solar paint, which is infused with light sensitive particles, which absorb sunlight and convert it into energy. Early workings of other technologies could mean spray on antennas, cooling surfaces from the sun’s rays, and even conductive electrodes on the wall, allowing for trackable movements and understanding commands.


The future could even mean integrating sensors and responsive materials into paint formulations. Surfaces coated with smart paints could one day be able to detect


various parameters such as temperature, humidity, light, and even chemical contaminants. This intelligence opens a myriad of possibilities across diverse applications, from building infrastructure and transportation systems to healthcare and beyond. Paint is moving far beyond its aesthetic uses and smart paints of their varying types should be a major consideration in care home design and build to both protect residents and staff and create cost efficient maintenance cycles.


n


Tom Price


Tom Price is the national sector lead for healthcare, education and fitness at Brewers Decorator Centres. The sector lead role supports businesses to find the right specifications of paint, decorating supplies and wallcoverings and provides direct support to ensure environments are safe, hard wearing – and look great. Brewers are the largest independent decorator’s merchant in the UK with an unrivalled range of brands with the knowledge and help needed to deliver a fantastic finish.


www.thecarehomeenvironment.com March 2024


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46