Paint Industry

Paint Industry

The global paint and coatings industry is a major subset of the international chemical industry. Coatings refer broadly to any type of covering that is applied to an object's surface for functional or decorative reasons, or both. Paints are a subset of coatings that are also used as a protective coating or as a decorative, colorful coating, or both. By 2022, the industry is expected to be valued at some 209.4 billion dollars globally. This is mainly driven by increasing demand in the construction industry. Talc is a natural mineral powder of magnesium silicate. This pigment is found as a combination of lamella and fibers, the fiber part strengthens flexibility of paint film, and its lamella part increases the paint resistance against water penetration.
A large percentage of the world's manufactured talc is used as a filler and dye in the paint industry. Important properties of talc in color include softness, good diffusion coefficient, neutrality against solutions and low weight. In this industry, talc powder is used as an extender and filler in paints. Talc micronized powder is white and has a high luminosity, which makes it a great filler in the paint industry. This filler improves and stabilizes the outer surface of object and controls the concentration and properties such as luster and veneer and in addition reduces the cost of production. In general, talc powder is very effective in uniformly spreading, preventing loosening paint layers, smoothing and oil absorption power.
Most paints are suspension of mineral particles in the liquid. The liquid part of the paint facilitates its application. But after the liquid evaporates, the mineral particles remain on the wall. Talc is used as a extender and filler in paint. The sheet-shaped particles of the talc improve the solid suspension in the can and help the adhesion of liquid paint to the wall without being bulky. The powdered talc has a very bright white color, which is called excellent filler in the applied paint. The low hardness of talc is advantageous because it causes less abrasion and less damage on paint spray nozzles and other painting equipment. In 2011, about 16 percent of the consumed talc was dedicated for paint production in the United States.