GLOSSARY 

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E  

EARTH PIGMENTS

Those pigments that are obtained from the earth, including barites, ochre, chalk and graphite. 

EDGE CRACKING

Cracks in the edges of drywall joints as a result of extreme drying conditions, such as high temperature and low humidity. A skim coat of joint compound usually will cover these cracks. 

EFFLORESCENCE

A deposit of water-soluble salts on the surface of masonry or plaster caused by the dissolving of salts present in the substrate, migration of the solution to the surface, and evaporation of the water. A white crystalline or powdery deposit on the surface of concrete, resulting from leaching of lime or calcium hydroxide out of a permeable concrete mass over time by water, followed by reaction with carbon dioxide and acidic pollutants. 

EGGSHELL LUSTRE

Lustre closely resembling that of an egg shell; between semi-gloss and flat.  

ELASTICITY

Property of a film that permits it to stretch or change in size and shape, returning to normal conditions without breaking during the distortion. Elasticity should not be confused with toughness, tensile strength, or elongation, which have different meanings. 

ELECTROSTATIC SPRAYING

A method of applying a spray coating in which opposite electrical charges are applied to the substrate and the coating. The charged particles of paint are attracted to the article being painted and are deposited there. The mist travels around corners of the substrate with the result that the article is coated more uniformly on all sides and edges with very little over-spray and bounce back. 

EMBOSSING

A raised effect created by impressing a design on the back of wallcovering by means of metal rollers. 

EMBRITTLEMENT

The process of becoming brittle. Becoming hard and rigid but with little tensile strength and breaking with a comparatively smooth fracture. 

EMERY CLOTH

Similar to sandpaper except that the abrasive is applied to cloth instead of paper. 

EMULSIFICATION

The process of dispersing one liquid in another. 

EMULSIFYING AGENT

A substance, called a surfactant, that intimately mixes, modifies the surface tension of colloidal droplets, and disperses dissimilar materials that are ordinarily immiscible, such as oil and water, to produce a stable emulsion. 

EMULSION

Two-phase liquid system in which small droplets of one liquid (the internal phase) are immiscible in and uniformly dispersed throughout a second continuous liquid phase (the external phase). 

EMULSION PAINT

A paint with a vehicle that is an emulsion of binder in water. The binder may be oil, oleo-resinous varnish, resin, or other emulsifiable material. 

ENAMEL

A paint characterized by an ability to form an especially smooth film. The line of distinction between enamel and oil paints is very indefinite. An enamel is usually high in gloss and pigmented with high-hiding pigments only. It also has a low pigment volume. 

END SEAL

Paint applied to the ends of boards in order to seal the pores to prevent the entrance of moisture that would cause decay and affect the paint film.  

EPOXY AMINE ADDUCT

An epoxy amine adduct coating is prepared by reacting an excess of an amine with a portion of the epoxy resin. The amine adduct is packaged in a separate container and then mixed with the remaining epoxy resin prior to application.  

EPOXY ESTER COATING

A single package epoxy coating based on epoxy resins partially esterified with fatty acids, rosin, etc. 

EPOXY POLYAMIDE

An epoxy resin cross-linked with polyamides; also called amide-cured epoxy resin. 

EPOXY POLYAMINE

An epoxy resin cross-linked with polyamines; also called amine-cured epoxy resin. 

EPOXY RESIN

A synthetic cross-linking of resins based on the reactivity of the epoxide group. 

EROSION

Wearing away of a paint film to expose the substrate or undercoat. 

ESTER SOLVENT

Organic solvents formed from an alcohol and an organic acid by eliminating water. 

ETCH

To wear away or roughen a surface with an acid or other chemical agent or with a fine abrasive prior to painting to increase adhesion; to prepare the surface of metal or concrete using acids. 

ETCH PRIMER

Acid-modified polyvinyl butyral zinc chromate paint used for metal preparation; also called wash primer. 

EXTENDED PIGMENT

Organic colour pigment diluted with an extender pigment (for example, alumina tri-hydrate, blanc fixe, or calcium carbonate). 

EXTENDER PIGMENT

Colourless pigment incorporated into a vehicle system to reduce cost, achieve durability, alter appearance, change gloss, control rheology, and influence other coating properties. Extender pigments have low hiding power, however. Examples include mica, alumina, carbonates, sulphates, and silicates.