Paint:
An opaque coating generally made with a binder, liquids, additives, and pigments. Applied in liquid form, it dries to form a continuous film that protects and improves the appearance of the substrate.

Peeling:
The detachment of paint from the surface in ribbons or sheets. Like flaking, it is the result of loss of adhesion and film integrity. Peeling can be intercoat, or down to the substrate.

Penetrating Finish:
A coating that is absorbed into the substrate, rather than forming a film on its surface.

Permeable:
Capable of allowing something (such as water vapor) to pass through without harm.

Petroleum Distillate:
Liquid hydrocarbon solvents (such as mineral spirits) that are isolated or made from petroleum.

Pigment:
A powdery substance that is one of the basic components of a paint or sealant. It provides whiteness or colour, hiding power, and bulk.

Plasterboard Compound:
A highly extended paste used to make a continuous seam between pieces of plasterboard; also used to repair cracks, holes and other defects. It is sanded smooth before painting.

Polymer:
A plastic-like material produced from chemical "monomers" which in turn have been produced from alcohols and petrochemicals. Certain polymers are used as acrylic paint and sealant binders. The binder's polymer particles are small and carried in water. The binder polymer particles and water mixture is known as an emulsion or as "acrylic."

Polyurethane Varnish:
A clear coating that is based on a modified alkyd resin.

Polyvinyl Acetate:
A binder most widely used in interior vinyl acrylic wall paints.

Preservative:
A substance used to prevent the growth of microorganisms in or on an organic base. An example is an ingredient in acrylic paint used to prevent spoilage.

Primary Colours:
Colours that cannot be produced by mixing any two other colours. They are: red, yellow, and blue.

Primer:
The first complete coat of paint applied in a painting system. Many primers are designed to provide adequate adhesion between the surface and subsequent topcoats. Most primers contain some pigment, some lend uniformity to the topcoat, some inhibit corrosion of the substrate, and some stop the discolouration of the topcoat.

Primer-Sealer:
A priming system that minimises or prevents the penetration of the topcoat into the substrate.

Print Resistance:
The capability of a coating to not retain pressed-in markings from an object placed on it.

PVA:
Polyvinyl acetate. A binder used in water-based paints. Same as vinyl acrylic.

PVC:
Pigment Volume Concentration. The ratio of the volume of pigment to the volume of total non-volatile material (i.e. pigment and binder) present in a paint. The figure is usually expressed as a percentage. Higher percentage figures (e.g., 40% - 75%) are associated with flat paints; and lower figures (e.g., 10% - 25%) with gloss and semigloss paints. (PVC has a second meaning: polyvinyl chloride, the major component of vinyl plastic.)