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Question asked 2019-04-14 09:08:29 ...
Most recent comment 2019-04-16 18:53:12
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I have many colors of Lefranc & Bourgeois Flashe vinyl paint, and am not using them quickly. I've noticed that they tend to harden in the jar, though I'm careful to keep the jar threads and lids clean and screwed on tight. I don't want to add water and potentially create mold, and am wondering if anyone knows a good vehicle to thin this paint and keep it usable longer.
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Moderator Answer
(brian baade)
Sorry for the belated reply, Kristin and I were away to
celebrate our daughter’s 2nd birthday.
I am not an expert on these paints but it is my
understanding that Flashe paints are bound in a poly vinyl acetate dispersion. Like
acrylic dispersions, they are not resoluble once dry. I would think that adding
a small bit of water should work fine. The various emulsifiers, dispersion
agents, etc. should help to keep mold growth down. There is already water in
the paint formulation so I do not see how it would contribute mold growth
unless the water you add has some mold spores. Using distilled water would
avoid even this possibility.
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Moderator Answer
(mkinsey)
Dipping brushes directly into paint jars can introduce spores, so it's always a good idea to dispense paint with a clean metal or plastic instrument (e.g. spoon). I like the suggestion of using distilled water. Antimicrobials in water-borne colors and mediums can lose potency in long-term storage, and it's not uncommon to see some mold growth in old, previously opened containers. Ivory Black seems particularly vulnerable, maybe because the pigment is a good growth medium, or because mold prefers a dark environment. One of our paint chemists recommended Lysol spray (that specific brand, original formula) to retard mold in acrylic containers- a light spray on the product surface before sealing the jar. He said the active ingredient was also commonly used as an anti-fungal in acrylic house paints, and that the alcohol carrier would not affect the overall condition of the paint.
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Moderator Answer
(brian baade)
Really interesting Matthew. I have experience substantial
mold growth on aqueous pigment pastes of ivory black and yellow ochre even when
some ethanol has been added. I have not seen any on tubed or jarred commercial
acrylic dispersions nor in Elmers glue (which is a dispersion of PVA).
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