Textured Paints and Coatings

Textured paints and coatings containing perlite have the advantage of being very lightweight coatings with a consistent appearance and also have excellent insulation properties. Perlite can be added to both oil and water-based coatings, adhesives and filling and texturing agents. Abrasion resistance is not a significant factor.

Advantages

In manufacture:

Bulk filling at low cost.
Low oil absorption.
Snow-white colour minimises pigmentation costs.
Special grading for texture control and low dust content.
Lightweight and conveniently packed in 100L plastic sacks.

On the wall:

Ultra lightweight nature reduces the tendency to sag and run.
Special grading process ensures absence of oversize particles which could mar the appearance.
Inert in an industrial atmosphere (chemically like a foam glass) so it is not a contributor to yellowing.
Forms an excellent insulator in its own right and increases those of the coating to that of wood at the same thickness.

Grades

Perlite is available in seven different particle sizes and up to four different densities for the most widely used grades.

Name	Grade	Size	Finished Texture
Ultrafine	05	0.01 - 1.0mm	Very fine or none
Superfine	10	0.15 - 2.0mm	Normal
Medium	15	0.15 - 3.0mm	Normal
Special	25	1.00 - 3.0mm	Normal
Through Grade	321	0.15 - 6mm	Normal
Standard	35	1.00 - 5.0mm	Very bold
Supercoarse	45	1.00 - 6.0mm	Very bold

Note: the above ranges are only indicative and subject to a tolerance of up to 10% above and below the range specified.

Mixing Machinery

Petlite is an expanded mineral aggregate and the coarser grades will not permit high rates of shear to be used in the mixing process. A slow speed mixer with broad paddles is reqcommended as follows:

Motor	1 hp per 100 litre batch i.e. 10 hp ofr 1000 litres batch size.
Gearing	Variable speed reducing the final drive to 50 - 200 rpm.
Paddles	Broad paddles at two levels to sweep 15 to 20% of batch volume.
Mixing Vats	Allow 40% for bulking whilst Silvalite is added to the mix. Covers are an advantage.

Note: Formulations requiring a high level of shear prior to the addition of Perlite should first be mixed with appropriate high-speed equipment.

Mix Applications

Oil-based textured coatings suitable for spray application.

Use 0.9 - 1.0 litres of loose Perlite per litre of finished coating(approx. 8% by weight) as follows:

Bold Texture	Use Perlite Standard 35 and Medium Grade 15 in the ratio of 2.5 or 2:1
Medium texture	Use Perlite Special Grade 25 and Superfine 10 in the ratio 2:1
Fine Texture	Use Perlite Superfine Grade 10 or Ultrafine Grade 5.

Oil-based textured coatings suitable for roller (or spray) application.

Use 0.6 - 0.7 litrse of loose Perlite Superfine Grade 10 per litre of finished coating (approx. 5% by weight.

Use 0.5 - 0.65 litres of loose Perlite per litre of finished coating (approx. 4 to 5.5% by weight) in the proportions indicated above.

Application

Spray Applied Texture Coatings

Generally heavy-duty spray equipment such as the Graco 9:1 ratio "President" pump is recommended but large volume pressure vessel and "hopper" gun equipment can work satisfactorily.

In all cases the following tip sizes are recommended:

Bold Textures ³/₈" to ¹/₂" (8 - 12mm)
Medium Textures ³/₁₆" to ¹/₄" (5 - 6.5mm)
Fine Textures ¹/₈" to ^3/₁₆"(3 - 5mm)

Roller Blind Textured Coatings

For fine and medium textures use ³/₄" to 1¹/₄" long nap roller depending on the surface or a "honeycomb" foam roller.

For bold textures use a foam roller with suitable indentations for best results.

Packaging

Perlite is supplied in heat sealed plastic sdacks holding on average 100 litres (3.5 ft³) and weighing 8 - 14 kg according to the grade. A full load comprises 750 bags on a 40ft. curtain-sided trailer whilst the smallest economic delivery is a pallet of 25 bags. Quotations can be provided on an ex-works or delivered basis.