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Water soluble versus water based

2004

What I am looking for is the correct definition and difference of Water soluble aresol paint versus water based aerosol paint.

My questions comes from investigation of Utility Marking Paints.

My town is trying to come up with the proper terminoligy for a marrking paint which is easily removed when sprayed on pavement of concrete to mark the location of underground utilities.

The issues of water soluble versus water based has come up a number of times and there seems to be many interpretations of it. Can any one out there define the difference and the advantage of one over the other? thanks

Sonny Lynch
Town of Herndon Public works - Herndon , Virginia, USA

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2004

Water soluble- dissolves in water. Water based- water is the catalist/reducer.(water based acrylics are common)

Sounds like you want a water soluble paint. I don't think I have ever used a water based aerosol, isn't this mix usually sprayed with an airless? I'd be interested in hearing from an expert on this one also.

Sheldon Taylor
supply chain electronics
Wake Forest, North Carolina

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April 3, 2009

Two systems are used in water based aerosol paints.
Water reducible (or water soluble) systems are resins that are commonly supplied in a water miscible solvent. The net effect (1) of modifying the resin (commonly enamel)to assist water compatibility and (2) using a water soluble solvent such as an alcohol (a 'coupling solvent') is a system that may be diluted with water.
A water based system does not require a coupling solvent to assist water dilution. These are resins such as acrylics that are supplied in water and emulsified with surfactants.
Water reducible enamel (alkyd) systems spray and behave more like solvent based systems than water based acrylic emulsions. Acrylic emulsions are cheaper and easier to make, hence their popularity over the enamels.

Ross Brinsdon
- Melbourne, Australia