a suspension of highly dispersed pigments (mainly, inorganic pigments) in varnishes. In addition to the major components, enamel paints may contain fillers, plasticizers, hardeners, siccatives, substances to impart a dull finish, and thinners. They are subdivided on the basis of the film-forming material into oil, alkyd (glyptal and pentaphtal), epoxy, organosilicon, nitrocellulose, and polyacrylic paints.
Enamel paints are applied on primed or spackled surfaces by any one of the existing methods (seeVARNISHES). When dry, they form a decorative and protective finish, similar in appearance to enamel (hence the name). Enamel paints are used on airplanes, automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, machine tools, refrigerators, and various instruments. (See alsoPAINTS and VARNISHES.)
M. M. GOL’DBERG