Balagulan, Virlyn
III - Neon
Decierdo, Shiela May
Chapter 2
Review of Related Literature
Watercolor paints are pigments held together by a water soluble binder, along
with additives and solvents. (Webexhibits.org/pigments) The term "watercolor" most
often to refers to traditional transparent watercolor or gouache (an opaque form of the
same paint), but also includes the use of thinned acrylic paint. (en.wikibooks.org)
Traditional watercolor paint is made of finely-ground pigment mixed with gum
arabic for body, and glycerin or honey for viscosity and to bond the colorant to the
painting surface. Unpigmented filler is added to gouache to lend opacity to the paint. Oil
of clove is used to prevent mold. (en.wikibooks.org)
Pigments or colored powders are what create the color. Paints are the mixtures
of pigments and liquid vehicle. It is the substance packed in a tube, while “colors” is the
product names given to paint. (handprint.com)
The binder, or resin, is the actual film forming component of paint. It imparts
adhesion, binds the pigments together, and strongly influences such properties as gloss
potential, exterior durability, flexibility, and toughness. Binders include synthetic or
natural resins such as acrylics, polyurethanes, polyesters, melamine resins, epoxy, or
oils. (McCauley, 2000)
Binders can be categorized according to drying, or curing, mechanism. The four
most common are simple solvent evaporation, oxidative cross linking, catalyzed
polymerization, and coalescence. Drying refers to evaporation of vehicle, whereas
curing refers to polymerization of the binder. Any particular paint may undergo either or
both processes. There are paints that dry only, those that dry then cure, and those that
do not depend on drying for curing. (McCauley, 2000)
Solvent keeps the paint in a liquid form until the solvent evaporates after the
paint is applied. Its main purpose is to adjust the curing properties and viscosity of the
paint. It is volatile and does not become part of the paint film. It also controls flow and
application properties, and affects the stability of the paint while in liquid state. Its main
function is as the carrier for the non volatile components. In order to spread heavier oils
(i.e. linseed) as in oil-based interior housepaint, thinner oil is required. These volatile
substances impart their properties temporarily—once the solvent has evaporated or
disintegrated, the remaining paint is fixed to the surface. It can include such hazardous
ingredients. (en.wikipedia.org)
Besides the three main categories of ingredients, paint can have a wide variety of
miscellaneous additives, which are usually added in very small amounts and yet give a
very significant effect on the product. Some examples include additives to
modify surface tension, improve flow properties, improve the finished appearance,
increase wet edge, improve pigment stability, impart antifreeze properties, control
foaming, control skinning, etc. Other types of additives include catalysts, thickeners,
stabilizers, emulsifiers, texturizers, adhesion promoters, UV stabilizers, flatteners (deglossing agents), biocides to fight bacterial growth, and the like. Additives normally do
not significantly alter the percentages of individual components in a formulation.
(en.wikipedia.org)
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in paint are considered harmful to the
environment and -to people who work with them on a regular basis. VOCs are typically
not acutely toxic but, instead, have compounding long-term health effects.
(en.wikipedia.org)
Plants can provide vivid colors without the harmful additives that may pollute
water system when they are poured down the drain. This gave us the idea of making
water color paint from common plants found in the area. For various reasons we chose
three colors, red (from the tomato fruit), green (from malunggay leaves), and yellow
(from turmeric rhizome) water colors paints to be produced from different kinds of
plants.
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a delicious, nutritious fruit, more widely
known as a vegetable. Botanically, a tomato is the ovary of a flowering plant; therefore it
is a fruit, or, more specifically, a berry. However, since it’s not as sweet as other fruits
and is most often served in salads or as a main dish - most people refer to it as a
vegetable. (tomato.org)
Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) is the most widely cultivated species of the
genus Moringa, which is the only genus in the family Moringaceae. It is an exceptionally
nutritious vegetable tree with a variety of potential uses. (en.wikipedia.org) Moringa is
loaded with nutrients. Each ounce of Moringa contains seven times the Vitamin C found
in oranges, four times the Vitamin A of carrots, three times the iron of spinach, four
times as much calcium as milk and three times the potassium of bananas. The leaves,
pods and flowers of this versatile tree are all edible, each with its own flavor. They can
be served fresh with meals, or be reduced to powder and used as a food supplement.
(malunggay.com)
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) or luyang dilaw in Filipino) plants are gathered
annually for their rhizomes, and propagated from some of those rhizomes in the
following season. (en.wikipedia.org) It is used as condiment and food coloring. It also
used to dye fabrics. Aside from these uses, turmeric is highly valued for its medicinal
properties. (wayofdesign.com)
With these particular plants, we are going to try and make water color paints
without the harmful substances that commercial made water color paints have.