How Is Acrylic Paint Made?

Since the 1930s, paint manufacturers in Europe and the U.S. have manufactured different types of acrylic paints. Unlike oil paints, acrylic paints dry quickly so painters can easily finish their projects. In general, acrylic paint is durable and doesn't crack over time, so it's great for indoor, outdoor or fine art use. Learn more about how this versatile water soluble paint is produced.

The first step to creating acrylic paint is testing. First all raw materials must be delivered and warehoused at the factory. Then, samples of each material are tested to make sure they meet the standard requirements for tone, color and mass. Four basic ingredients are found in paint: resins, solvent and thinners, pigments and extenders, and additives.

Pigments may be purchased from other vendors or manufactured on site. Two types of pigments exist: inorganic and organic pigments. Inorganic pigments include naturally mined pigments, such as sienna, or manufactured pigments, such as iron oxide. Organic pigments are produced in the chemistry lab with materials like coal, tar, petroleum and natural gas. To make pigment, first the liquid form of the pigment is mixed and then drained through filters. The dried pigment blocks are crushed into finely ground colored powder that can be added to the paint.

When a certain color of acrylic paint is scheduled for production in a factory, all the ingredients are weighed and measured precisely. The manufacturer chooses a base that corresponds with the color's depth. Pastel paints will have more white pigment than darker shades. Depending on the paint color, several pigments maybe added to the base to get the correct hue, tone and color.

Dry ingredients are normally "premixed" before being added to the liquid components. Then, using a special mixer, the pigment and binder are blended together. The mixture is milled to produce consistent color dispersal and vivid color. This mixing and milling process can last several days. The manufacturer may also add various binding agents to alter the paint's overall composition, wetness and flow.

One of the final steps of the acrylic paint manufacturing process in quality control. The quality control team tests the finished batch of paint for color, toxicity, stability, fineness, tone and drying time. The current batch is compared to older "standard" batches, and spectral analysis may also be used. For indoor and outdoor house and furniture paints, additional tests for overall durability, fire resistance, weathering, adhesion and gloss may be conducted. If the paint passes quality control, it is ready to be filtered and packaged in cans, tubes or pans.