Determination of Paint Spoilage due to Plant Contamination

When leaving the factory, paint may already be contaminated within its container. This is due to microbial contaminants that are located within the plant itself. The problem could be in the water used to mix the paint or it may be due to surfaces that the paint may come into contact with during the manufacturing process. This type of paint spoilage can be prevented when the microbial contamination point has been found.

Clean Air Labs has the technology to identify the source of microbial contamination that occurs inside of the factory. Our scientists investigate every possible source of microbes, collect a sample, and bring it back to the lab for analysis. This allows the type of contamination to be determined as well as providing a pin point for the source. In the case of multiple contamination sources, Clean Air Labs will rate the points of entry giving the manufacturer knowledge of the most problematic point of microbial contamination.

Resistance of Emulsion Paints in the Container to Microbial Growth

Paints have a tendency to spoil if contained over time which leads to a lowered pH, a decrease in viscosity, gas formation, and a terrible smell. This spoilage is a result of microbial growth within the paint itself. However, this can often be prevented by mixing paint with various biocides.

At Clean Air Labs, manufacturers are provided with the service of biocide testing. The technical work can be done here by trained microbiologists following specific ASTM protocols. Test samples are created by inoculating contained paint with outlined levels of a biocide and adding a constant level of one specific microbe and incubated. By doing this, we can determine the biocide’s effectiveness. This is done by measuring the microbial growth in each sample against the other samples and a control of paint containing no biocide. By doing this the biocide’s dependence upon its volume in a paint sample can be ascertained. This type of product testing can be done using a wide array of microbes, and each can be tested individually.

Determining the Resistance of Paint Films and Related Coating
to Fungal Defacement

Paint or surface coatings may, over time, become defaced by fungal growth. This tends to happen when there is an environmental change, be it a change in pH, lighting, or humidity. Paints often can contain biocides to prevent fugal defacement, but the biocides can leach over time. This means that the paint may, after continual exposure to extreme conditions, loose its ability to resist microbial growth on its surface.

At Clean Air Labs we utilize ASTM protocols to test paints and surface coatings for their susceptibility to fungal defacement. Using a rapid exposure technique, we can mimic the most extreme environmental conditions and report a products fungal resistance. This is done by applying the paint or coating in question directly to a small surface. After allowing it to dry, this sample is placed in a Petri dish which is loaded with mold spores. The two are incubated together in a hot, humid climate for several weeks. Each sample is examined for defacement and leaching. The results are then rated.