Characterization of painted surfaces in the United States from the perspective of potential damage from acidic deposition

Technical Report · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5911036· OSTI ID:5911036

Lipfert, F. W.

Data on the types and applications of exterior paints used in the United States are reviewed from the perspective of potential damage by air pollution or acidic deposition. The data show that residential buildings are the most economically important subset of the painted structures in the US for painting costs. The trends for new construction suggest that this ranking is likely to continue in the future. Although both new construction and maintenance painting are economically important, the more difficult conditions involved in painting over existing finishes make this an important class of situations for research. Consumer surveys show that the most important mode of paint failure is peeling and flaking which, in its various manifestations, accounts for about half of residential paint problems. Such problems often occur within two to three years after painting. Color changes (deterioration) are next in importance. Although chalking and erosion have been observed their roles in decisions to repaint are less apparent. The trends in paint usage and performance are generally supportive of (or not inconsistent with) the hypothesis that air pollution or acid rain may be having some adverse effects, although such data are by no means conclusive. The report recommended that selections of coatings and substrate for acid deposition research include those combinations that are widely used (latex over wood and over previous paint) and those that are sensitive to acid deposition (paints containing CaCO/sub 3/; alkyd paint over steel). 38 refs., 28 figs., 5 tabs.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 5911036
• Report Number(s): BNL-42768; ON: DE89014264
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
AIR POLLUTION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BUILDINGS
COATINGS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COST
DEPOSITION
FAILURES
NORTH AMERICA
PAINTS
POLLUTION
RAIN
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
USA
WEATHERING