Inorganic paint with a water-potassium silicate base is impervious to water. It is also fireproof and adheres to various surfaces exposed to wide temperature fluctuations

Schutt, J. B.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

June 1965
	
Brief 65-10156 
NASA TECH a I I UN A^, ]A^% 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued by the Technology Utilization Division to summarize specific 
technical innovations derived from the space program. Copies are available to the public from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia, 22151. 
Inorganic Paint Is Durable, Fireproof, Easy to Apply 
The problem: To develop a paint that is fireproof, 
inert to ionizing radiation, and highly adherent to var-
ious surfaces exposed to a wide range of temperatures. 
The solution: A series of completely inorganic 
paints formulated with an alkali-metal silicate solution 
(e.g., a water solution of potassium silicate) as a vehi-
cle, a phosphate (e.g., aluminum orthophosphate) as a 
wetting agent, a pigment (e.g., titanium dioxide) as a 
coloring agent and filler, and water as a thinner. Vari-
ous other inorganic materials, including standard pig-
ments, can be added to or substituted in the basic for-
mulation to obtain paints having a wide range of 
desirable characteristics for special applications. 
How it's done: The paints are prepared by thor-
oughly blending proportioned amounts of the inor-
ganic ingredients in the proper order. A filler-spreader 
dispersion is first formed by mixing the inorganic 
phosphate with water. A water solution of the alkali-
metal silicate, required pigments, and other ingredi-
ents are then mixed into the filler-spreader dispersion. 
The following is a typical paint formulation incorpo-
rating titanium dioxide as a white pigment, aluminum 
hydroxide to increase the shelf life of the paint, and 
boric acid to harden and make the paint coating more 
impervious to water.
Ingredient Percent by Weight 
Typical Range 
Potassium silicate (35% solution) 41.5 38 —70 
Aluminum orthophosphate 0.3 0.1— 0.6 
Water 16.2 14 —18 
Titanium dioxide 24.9 20 —35 
Aluminum hydroxide 16.6 15 —35 
Boric acid 0.5 0.3— 1
Potassium hydroxide added to the formulation re-
acts chemically to produce filler material which im-
proves the flexibility, adhesion, and cleanability of the 
paint coating. The opacity, as well as the water resist-
ance of the coating, can also be improved by adding 
antimonous sulfide to the paint mixture. 
Notes: 
I. The paints can be applied directly to various ma-
terials, including aluminum, steel, plastics, and 
ceramics, by conventional methods such as spray-
ing, brushing, and dipping. Painted surfaces can be 
air dried at room temperature or elevated tempera-
tures. Stainless steels and certain plastics require 
the use of a primer coat to ensure proper adhesion 
of the paint. In some cases a sealant can be applied 
over the paint to eliminate porosity and improve 
water resistance. Appropriate primer and sealer 
compositions have been developed for special 
applications. 
Fifteen different inorganic paint and primer com-
positions in this series have been formulated and 
tested. These paints, which are simply and inexpen-
sively prepared in a variety of colors, have excellent 
shelf lives and are easily applied to provide coat-
ings that are generally stable, fireproof, adherent 
under wide temperature fluctuations, waterproof, 
hard, and tough. 
Inquiries concerning this invention may be directed 
to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Goddard Space Flight Center 
Greenbelt, Maryland, 20771 
Reference: B65-10156 
-.	
f) (continued overtea 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States Govern-
ment, nor NASA, nor any person acting on behalf of NASA: A. Makes 
any warranty or representation, express or implied, with respect to the 
accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the information contained in
this document, or that the use of any information, apparatus, method, 
or process disclosed in this document may not infringe privately-owned 
rights; or B. Assumes any liabilities with respect to the use of, or for 
damages resulting from the use of, any information, apparatus, method, 
or process disclosed in this document. 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19650000154 2020-03-11T17:23:40+00:00Z
Patent status: NASA encourages the immediate 
commercial use of this invention. Inquiries about ob-
taining rights for its commercial use may be made to 
NASA, Code AGP, Washington, D.C., 20546. 
Source: John B. Schutt 
(GSFC-366)
. 
Brief 65-10156	 Category No. 03


Inorganic paint is durable, fireproof, easy to apply

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