Advantages and Features of Acrylic and Alkyd Paints

1 Advantages of alkyd paints
2 Disadvantages of alkyd paints
3 Advantages of acrylic paints
4 Cons of acrylic paints and varnishes
5 Can acrylic and alkyd materials be combined?
6 Which paint is better alkyd or acrylic?


Painting is one of the most reliable and proven methods of giving a variety of surfaces a beautiful appearance, as well as providing protection against various mechanical and atmospheric influences.

Alkyd and acrylic paints are in great demand among paints and varnishes. In order to understand which one to choose for each particular case, we will consider their features, advantages and possible disadvantages, and also study the difference between alkyd and acrylic enamel.


Advantages of alkyd paints
The relatively low cost is one of the fundamental factors that determine such a wide popularity of this paint and varnish material. Due to the affordable price of the product, the consumer can significantly save money, especially on large volumes of work.

Ease of application. Special knowledge and professionalism are not required to work with alkyd paint, so even a beginner with no experience can apply the composition. All that is needed is to act in strict accordance with the instructions specified by the manufacturer, as well as properly dilute the composition with the solvent intended for this and in the right proportion. To apply paint, you do not need a professional tool - you only need an ordinary roller or paint brush;
The richest selection of different shades. Today, the consumer has the opportunity to choose from a huge assortment, which allows him to choose the perfect color for almost every surface to be painted. Alkyd paints have always been prized for the richness and brightness of colors;
Fast drying. The paint dries almost completely within a few hours after work, and after 2-3 days the maximum strength of the coating is achieved.

Disadvantages of alkyd paints
Along with the undoubted advantages, alkyd paints also have a number of disadvantages:

Fragility. Under unfavorable atmospheric conditions and mechanical stress, the surface painted with alkyd paint may lose its original appearance and even turn yellow after a year. The paint layer will have to be renewed, which will entail additional costs. For those who are not ready for this, it is better to give preference to more resistant paints and varnishes;
Low level of resistance to sunlight. It is highly not recommended to use it for exterior decoration, as a result of direct ultraviolet influence, the coating not only cracks quickly, but also burns out over time;
Very high toxicity rates. Alkyd paints contain in their composition a number of components that evaporate during the process of working with it and when it dries, therefore manufacturers do not recommend staying indoors for a day from the moment the composition is applied.
It should be taken into account that alkyd paints must be diluted only with the type of solvents indicated by the manufacturer on the package. Only in this case can you get a guarantee of quality, brightness and the declared service life.

Advantages of acrylic paints
Just like the previous paint and varnish material, acrylic paints have their own number of advantages that you should pay attention to:

Thermal resistance. It retains its original characteristics even under high temperature conditions, thanks to which it can be used to paint water pipes through which hot water flows and heating radiator grilles. Manufacturers guarantee that the applied paint will last for many years without losing its original appearance or yellowing;
Long service life. According to manufacturers, the average service life of painted metal surfaces while maintaining their original aesthetic qualities is about 20 years. In turn, painted wooden surfaces will last about 9 years. However, it should be borne in mind that before painting, the surface must be cleaned of old paintwork and primed without fail;
High indicators of resistance to ultraviolet light. Unlike alkyd paint, acrylic is not susceptible to the harmful effects of solar radiation, which makes it perfect for exterior decoration;
Corrosion protection. Well protects metal surfaces from rust, moreover, it can be applied directly over it;
Ecological cleanliness. It does not contain any substances harmful to health, so it can be comfortably used for interior decoration of objects.

Cons of acrylic paints and varnishes
Price. Significantly exceeds the price of alkyd, therefore, this factor must be taken into account if it is necessary to paint a large area;
There is a high probability of purchasing low-quality, fake products;
Drying time depends on temperature and humidity. As practice shows, it may take up to two days for a full set of coating to achieve its hardness in different weather conditions.