December 23, 2024

Scientists Watched Paint Dry – The Puzzling Patterns Revealed a World of Movement and Mystery

Scientists have actually found that the pattern of dried paint is affected by the pigment concentration and the temperature at which it dries. A research study in ACS Langmuir revealed that drops with lesser pigment or placed on cooler surfaces resembled “fried eggs” when dried, while those with more pigment or dried at greater temperature levels appeared more consistent. The findings suggest that by adjusting pigment concentration and drying temperature level, one can manage the final look of dried paint.
They found that pigment concentration and temperature level affected how the liquid gelled and vaporized, information that might assist control patterns in dried paint.

Researchers have actually discovered that the pattern of dried paint is influenced by the pigment concentration and the temperature level at which it dries. A research study in ACS Langmuir exposed that drops with lower pigment or placed on cooler surfaces resembled “fried eggs” when dried, while those with more pigment or dried at greater temperatures appeared more consistent. The findings suggest that by changing pigment concentration and drying temperature level, one can manage the last appearance of dried paint.
The drying pattern of paint is affected by its pigment concentration and the drying temperature level, with adjustments in these aspects offering control over the paints final appearance.
As drops of paint dry, some look like “fried eggs,” with “yolks” of color surrounded by beautiful white halos, whereas others appear uniform. They discovered that pigment concentration and temperature impacted how the liquid gelled and evaporated, details that could help control patterns in dried paint.
Typically, artists and home painters desire even, uniform pigment distribution after paint is applied to a surface area. Its not actually clear how to prevent patterns from forming as the liquid dries.

Both the pigment quantity and the glasss surface area temperature impacted the size, shape, and pattern of the dried paint drops. The scientists saw that drops with lower pigment concentrations or deposited on the most affordable temperature level surface area of 86 degrees Fahrenheit collected colorful particles in the center, giving them a “fried egg” appearance. With more pigment and higher temperatures, as much as 176 degrees Fahrenheit, the dried pattern was more consistent and had even color distribution through the entire circle.
The scientists say that to control the appearance of dried paint, pigment concentration and surface temperature could be changed, depending on the final pattern thats preferred.
Referral: “Drying Drops of Paint Suspension: From “Fried Eggs” to Quasi-Homogeneous Patterns” by Stella M. M. Ramos, Damien Soubeyrand, Rémy Fulcrand and Catherine Barentin, 14 September 2023, Langmuir.DOI: 10.1021/ acs.langmuir.3 c01605.

Initially, there were dueling outward and inward flows of the liquid: inward circulation from the hot substrate to the cooler top of the bead, and an outward pull from capillary flow.
Eventually, gelation of the paint suspension slowed and increased the viscosity pigment movement.
The final drying action locked the pigments into put on the slides surface area.

As paint drops dry, they can look like a “fried egg” (left image, scale bar is one millimeter) or establish a more even pigment circulation (best image). Credit: Adapted from Langmuir 2023, DOI: 10.1021/ acs.langmuir.3 c01605.
The researchers prepared five mixes of a water-based acrylic paint and water, and after that dropped the solutions onto heated glass slides. As the liquid vaporized, they examined and photographed the deposits, and observed three phenomena:.