MEKO and the skinning of paint.

by Esaar International Pvt. Ltd. | posted in: Tabloid | 0

Skinning of paint is the biggest nuisance in protective coatings. Skinning causes the avoidable waste of a costly coating material. The loss of paint due to skinning is estimated to be as much as 3 to 5%. This not only worries the consumers but also the manufacturers when it comes to filling of small containers. MEKO is an important additive as a solution to skinning of paint.

What is skinning of paint?

Extensive research on the causes of skinning in paint and has identified that as the temperature starts to increase outside the pail, the air between the lid and the bulk paint will heat up quicker than the bulk paint. The paint on the lid will also heat up quicker than the bulk paint because it is not as well insulated. As the paint on the lid starts to warm up, water will leave this surface and condense on the surface of the bulk paint. As the paint on the lid loses moisture, it will start to dry, forming a film. This film of dry paint on the lid is referred to as skinning.

How to reduce the losses with MEKO?

A minute doze of an effective anti-skinning agent can alleviate the difficulty of skinning. Methyl Ethyl Ketoxime aka MEKO is one such anti-skinning agent. Methyl Ethyl Ketoxime (MEKO) functions by binding the drying agents, metal salts that catalyze the oxidative crosslinking of drying oils. Once the paint is applied to a surface, MEKO evaporates, thereby allowing the drying process to proceed. Other antiskinning agents have been used, including phenol-based antioxidants, but these tend to yellow the paint.