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Primer

A primer is a preparatory coating put on materials before painting. Priming ensures better adhesion of paint to the surface, increases paint durability, and provides additional protection for the material being painted.

When primers are used
Primer is a paint product that allows finishing paint to adhere much better than if it were used alone. For this purpose, primer is designed to adhere to surfaces and to form a binding layer that is better prepared to receive the paint. Because primers do not need to be engineered to have durable, finished surfaces, they can instead be engineered to have more aggressive filling and binding properties with the material underneath. Sometimes this is achieved with specific chemistry, as in the case of aluminum primer, but more often this is achieved through controlling the primer's physical properties such as porosity, tackiness, and hygroscopy.

In practice, primer is often used when painting many kinds of porous materials, such as concrete and especially wood (see detailed description below). Priming is mandatory if the material is not water resistant and will be exposed to the elements. Priming gypsum board (drywall) is also standard practice with new construction because it seals the wall and aids in preventing mold. Primers can also be used for dirty surfaces that, for some reason, cannot be cleaned, or before painting light colors over existing dark colors.

Primers can usually be tinted to a close match with the color of your finishing paint. If your finishing paint is a deep color, tinting the primer can reduce the number of layers of finishing paint that are necessary for good uniformity across the painted surface.


Primers for wood
There are several reasons why using a primer before painting wood is mandatory. First of all, wood is very porous and will absorb the solvent from paint, drying the paint prematurely. As most paints undergo chemical reactions during the process of curing (for example, latex and alkyd-based paints actually polymerize when curing), they depend on water or solvent being evaporated slowly rather than being absorbed quickly by the underlying material. A layer of primer will help the paint to undergo proper complete curing cycle.

Secondly, without a primer, several layers of paint can be necessary to completely obscure the wood grain and ensure even color.

Lastly, if wood is exposed to moisture, a thin layer of paint will still be water permeable. The end result will be warped parts, mildew, and dry rot. Primer adds to the waterproofness of the paint. Curiously, primer can be removed from brushes with water and does not require paint thinner for brush cleaning.

Quality primers are often comparable in price to finish paints, their cost influenced by the quality of binders that they use. Some specialty primers are in fact quite costly.

Primers are not necessary for a wood stain treatment that is designed to show the wood grain. On soft woods a wood conditioner (thinned shellac or varnish) allows for more even coloring of stain. Sealers are designed to promote uniform finishes. They are designed with qualities that promote fairly quick drying and easy sanding to achieve smooth finishes.


Primers for metal
Some metals, such as untreated aluminum, require a primer; others may not. A primer designed for metal is still highly recommended if a part is to be exposed to moisture. Once water seeps through to the bare metal, oxidation will begin (plain steel will simply rust). Metal primers may contain additional materials to protect against corrosion, such as sacrificial zinc.

Metal hydroxides/oxides do not provide a solid surface for the paint to adhere to, and paint will come off in large flakes. Using a primer will provide extra insurance against such a scenario. An additional reason for using a primer on metal could be the poor condition of the surface. A steel part can be rusty, for example. Of course, the best solution is to thoroughly clean the metal, but when this is not a viable option, special kinds of primers can be used, which chemically convert rust to the solid metal salts. And even though such surface is still lacking in comparison to the shiny clean metal, it is yet much better than weak, porous rust.

Painting and gluing aluminum is especially important in the aircraft industry, which uses toxic zinc chromate primers and chromating to add the necessary adhesion properties.

Primers for plastic
Using a primer on surfaces made of plastic is really only necessary when making a drastic change of color (going from dark brown to white, for example), as most household plastics are not very porous and are not easily damaged by moisture; or when a long-lasting coat of paint is desired. A primer will reduce the number of layers of paint necessary to completely cover the previous color, and will help the paint make a thorough bond with the surface being painted. As most paints and primers designed to be used for painting plastics are not water based, an important point for choosing a primer for plastic is making sure the primer's propellant or solvent will not dissolve or warp the plastic part itself (e.g. most common household spray paint will damage polystyrene foam). Be sure to test both primer and paint on a small hidden spot of the part you are painting.