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KEIMFARBEN GmbH & Co. KG
Keimstraße 16
D-86420 Diedorf
Germany
Fon: +49 (0) 821 4802 - 109
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Water glass – the binder for silicate paints. Natural, mineral and with an inspired adhesion concept

The most important constituent of a paint, which determines its quality, is the binder, which combines all the different ingredients with one another and, in particular, ensures the adhesion of the paint to the substrate. A distinction is drawn between inorganic (mineral) and organic binders.

: The natural raw materials on which silicate paints are based

Inorganic binders are obtained from mineral raw materials. The most resistant mineral paint binder is potassium water glass (= potassium silicate).

: The concept underlying the adhesion of silicate paints, an extremely strong bond

Mineral binders react chemically with the substrate. Silicate systems are based on the silicification of the binder with the substrate, a chemical process in which the binder potassium water glass reacts with the mineral substrate. A strong, permanent bond is created between the paint and the underlying substrate (render, natural stone, concrete etc.). This render cross-section reveals the silicification process using coloured KEIM Fixativ (liquid potassium silicate). This bond is one of the factors crucial to the unequalled durability of KEIM’s silicate paints.

Organic binders such as synthetic resin emulsion paints or silicone resin emulsions are based on hydrocarbon chemistry (petrochemistry), as is also familiar from adhesives. They only adhere by the physical process of adhesive bonding.