FADING:
Lightening of the paint's colour, usually caused by exposure to light, heat or the weather.

FEATHERING:
A process used to blend a small area into its surroundings after spot-priming, applying a filler, or scraping off an area of old paint.

FERROUS:
A metal that contains iron; most ferrous metals are subject to rusting.

FILM FORMATION:
The formation of a continuous dry film by a binder, either pigmented or not. In a acrylic paint this process is the result of the water evaporating and the subsequent fusion of the binder particles.

FLAKING:
The detachment of pieces of paint from the substrate, caused by a loss of adhesion and/or elasticity.

FLAMMABILITY:
The ability of a substance to ignite, having a flash point under 537°C).

FLASH:
Uneven gloss or colour resulting from an unsealed substrate or excessively high or low temperatures during drying.

FLASH POINT:
The lowest temperature at which the vapours of a liquid can catch fire.

FLAT PAINT:
A paint with little or no sheen. Used mostly on interior walls and ceilings, and exterior wall areas.

FLEXIBILITY:
Degree to which a coating or sealant, after drying, is able to conform to the movement of its substrate without damage.

FLOW:
The ability of a coating to even out upon application, so that brush and roller marks are not visible.

FUNGICIDE:
An ingredient used in some coatings and sealants to help keep mildew and other fungi from growing on the surface.