The key difference between acrylic and alkyd paint is that acrylic paint has chemicals as binders and thinners, whereas alkyd paint has chemical binders and thinners made of either alcohol or mineral spirits.
Acrylic and alkyd paints are used for decorative purposes and paintings. Typically, acrylic paints are more durable than alkyd paints.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Acrylic Paint
3. What is Alkyd Paint
4. Acrylic vs Alkyd Paint in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Acrylic vs Alkyd Paint
What is Acrylic Paint?
Acrylic paint is a type of paint having pigments that are suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion. It is a fast-drying paint and contains plasticizers, silicone oils, defoamers, stabilizers, and metal soaps. Moreover, most acrylic paint types are water-based paints that can become resistant to water upon drying. The unique features of the final outcome of the paint depend on the dilution of the paint (with water), modification of the acrylic gels, the medium used, etc.
Moreover, we can use water-based acrylic paints as latex house paints, which is the technical name of the suspension of the polymer microparticles in water. House paints made using acrylic paint is usually a combination of binder, filler, pigment, and water. There can be exterior latex house paints that are co-polymer blends. However, the best exterior house paint is 100% acrylic paint.
There are two major grades of commercially available acrylic paint. The first one is artist acrylics. Artists’ acrylics are created and designed to resist chemical reactions upon exposure to external factors such as UV, water, and O2. The second one is known as student acrylics and has similar working features as artists’ acrylics but has a lower content of pigments, which makes it less expensive.
What is Alkyd Paint?
Alkyd paints are a type of paint consisting of alkyd polyester resin that is modified with fatty acids. Moreover, these alkyds are made from polyols and organic acids, which include dicarboxylic acids and carboxylic acid anhydrides, along with triglyceride oils. The major applications of alkyd substances are in paint manufacturing, varnishes, and mould making for castings.
Alkyd paints are mainly used for door paintings, cabinets, floors, trim, furniture, and commercial wall coverings. Typically, professional painters use alkyd paints as they can adhere to surfaces, cover small surfaces that appear uneven, and hide brush and roller marks.
Moreover, alkyd paints are known as a modern descent of oil paints, which are typically formed from an alkyd resin that is dissolved in a common type of thinner. These are used instead of pigments that are suspended in oil.
What is the Difference Between Acrylic and Alkyd Paint?
Acrylic paints and alkyd paints are two types of paints that are useful for different artistic and household painting purposes. The key difference between acrylic and alkyd paint is that acrylic paint has chemicals as binders and thinners, whereas alkyd paint has chemical binders and thinners made of either alcohol or mineral spirits. Moreover, acrylic paints are water-based, while alkyd paints are oil-based.
The below infographic presents the differences between acrylic and alkyd paint in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Acrylic vs Alkyd Paint
Acrylic paints are a type of paint having pigments that are suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion. Alkyd paints are a type of paint consisting of alkyd polyester resin that is modified with fatty acids. The key difference between acrylic and alkyd paint is that acrylic paint has chemicals as binders and thinners, whereas alkyd paint has chemical binders and thinners made of either alcohols or mineral spirits.
Reference:
1. Hummel, Anita. “How to Tell the Difference between Alabaster and Marble?” Mondoro, 6 Aug. 2022.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Acrylfarben” By Gmhofmann – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Glyptal” By Smokefoot – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia