Glossary of Terms
Mass Balance
A method of calculating the relationship between the amount of solvent and solids in a solventborne finishing system (refer to Morrells Technical Services for help).
MDF
Medium Density Fibreboard.
NC
Abbreviation for Nitrocellulose – a low performance, quick drying lacquer used mainly on occasional furniture, fittings, pencils and coffins.
NGR
Abbreviation for Non Grain Raising – a term usually associated with stains that do not swell and raise the fibres of the grain when applied to timber.
Non-Convertible Coatings
Term used to describe a coating that undergoes a chemical or physical change during drying and curing that cannot be reversed after it has occurred i.e. the coating cannot be returned to its liquid state. Typical examples are AC and UV lacquers. Also known as Non-Reversible coatings.
Orange Peel
A film defect which resembles the ‘speckled’ or ‘mottled’ surface of an orange, typically caused by uneven drying, incorrect coating weights or wrong spray application pressures.
Pantone
A colour reference library containing many hundreds of colours typically used for matching or specifying printing inks.
Papering-Up
The action of sanding a timber substrate after the stripping process to ensure that all remnants of stripper or other contaminants or surface blemishes are fully removed prior to recoating.
Patina
Name given to a stain or ‘stipple’ used to give an antique or aged effect on furniture or coated panels, especially picture frames.
PDS
Abbreviation for Product Data Sheet.
Pot life
Associated with two-pack lacquers such as AC or PU, and is a measure of how long after mixing the two components i.e. lacquer and catalyst/hardener, the coating will remain fluid enough to be used. Typically, this is 36 hours for AC and 2-3 hours for PU.
Precatalyst Lacquer
Also known as PC, Precat and Precatalysed lacquer. A type of single component (1K) lacquer where a weak acid is already incorporated into the formulation with no need for further mixing prior to application.
Pressure Feed
Term used to describe the use of a pressure pot to feed lacquer to a spray gun under air pressure.
PSI
Abbreviation for Pounds per Square Inch. The measurement unit for air pressure from a compressor.
PU
Abbreviation for Polyurethane lacquers, typically supplied as a two-component system comprising lacquer and isocyanate hardener.
Pulling Over
A method of levelling the final film of a shellac or nitrocellulose finish by means of a solvent-damped rubber. The solvents are special blends prepared to soften the film just enough to allow it to be manipulated.
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