Paints and coatings: Characteristics
What decides hiding power, washability and coverage
What this tab covers The physical and chemical properties that set its grade, price and uses, with the commercial grades and the standards that define them.Buyers judge paint by hiding power (opacity), coverage per litre, durability, washability, gloss, drying time and VOC content. Opacity comes mainly from TiO2 and its spacing in the film, so formulation skill decides cost per square metre more than price per litre.
Properties that matter commercially
| Property | Value / specification | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pigment volume concentration (PVC) | about 20-35% for gloss and premium emulsions; 60-80% for economy matt (indicative) | higher PVC means cheaper, more matt and less washable paint; Omya's case study compares PVC 60 and PVC 80 footprints | Omya sustainability toolkit; indicative |
| Solids content | about 40-60% by volume (indicative) | sets coverage and film thickness | indicative |
| VOC content | EU limit for interior matt walls 30 g/l (Decopaint, indicative) | regulatory compliance and odour | indicative |
| Spreading rate | about 10-14 square metres per litre per coat for emulsions (indicative) | real cost per wall | indicative |
Commercial grades
- Interior emulsions (economy, premium, luxury)
- Exterior emulsions and elastomeric
- Enamels (alkyd, water-based)
- Primers and putty
- Industrial liquid (epoxy, PU)
- Powder coatings (polyester, epoxy, hybrid)
- Automotive (e-coat, base, clear)
- Protective and marine, antifouling
- Wood finishes (PU, NC, UV)