Lacquer
Definition
Clear or pigmented coating that dries purely by solvent evaporation (no chemical cure). Nitrocellulose and acrylic lacquers are the classic examples. Fast drying, re-soluble in its own solvent.
- Cure mechanism
- Solvent evaporation only, no chemical cure
- Common types
- Nitrocellulose, acrylic
- Drying speed
- Fast
- Solubility
- Re-soluble in its own solvent
Common questions
Why does lacquer's re-solubility matter for forensic paint examination?+
Because a lacquer film can be re-dissolved in its own solvent even after fully drying, it behaves differently from cured coatings under solvent testing, which examiners use to help classify an unknown paint chip's binder system.
How is lacquer distinguished from an enamel coating in casework?+
Lacquer redissolves and softens when exposed to its solvent, while a cured enamel resists redissolving because its film has chemically cross-linked rather than merely dried, a difference solvent-swell or FTIR testing can reveal.
Related terms
- Binder
- The polymer matrix that holds pigments in place and bonds the paint to the substrate. Identifies paint type (alkyd, acrylic, polyurethane, epoxy)...
- Cross-Section Mount
- Embedding a paint chip in resin, polishing to a flat face, and viewing under reflected light at 100 to 400 times magnification...
- Paint
- Pigmented liquid coating that dries to an opaque, coloured solid film. Built from four functional components: binder, pigment, solvent (vehicle), and additives.
- PDQ (Paint Data Query)
- RCMP-maintained international automotive paint database. Stores binder, pigment and layer data for vehicle original-equipment finishes from major manufacturers. Used to narrow a...
- Pigment
- Insoluble particles that give colour and opacity. Titanium dioxide (white), iron oxides (red/brown), carbon black (black), organic colorants (blues, reds). SEM-EDX reports...
- Pyrolysis GC-MS
- Heating a tiny polymer sample (about 1 microgram) to roughly 600 to 800 degrees Celsius in an inert atmosphere, separating the volatile...
- Varnish
- Transparent, hard protective film made from a drying oil, resin and solvent. Cures by oxidation (oil varnish) or polymerisation (polyurethane varnish). Used...