Abrasion Resistance– Resistance to being worn away by rubbing or friction. Abrasion resistance is a matter of toughness, rather than hardness. It is a necessary quality for floor finishes, enamels and varnishes.

Accelerator- Catalyst; a material which accelerates the hardening of a certain coating.

Acetone- Dimethyl ketone; solvent.

Acoustic Paint- Paint which absorbs or deadens sound.

Acrylic-  A synthetic resin widely used as a latex to produce paints with good color and color retention. Acrylic latex paints may be thinned and cleaned up with water. Breeze interior and exterior latex paints in flat, eggshell and semi-gloss are all based on pure acrylic emulsions.

Activator- Catalyst or curing agent.

Adhesion- The degree of attachment between a coating film and the underlying paint or other material.

Aerosol Use of compressed gas to spray the product from its container.

Aging- Remaining undisturbed.

Agitator- Stirrer; mixer.

Air Bubble- Dry bubble in paint film caused by entrapped air.

Air Drying- Dries by oxidation or evaporative drying by simple exposure to air without heat or catalyst.

Airless Spraying- Spraying without atomizing air, using hydraulic pressure.

Alkali- A substance such as lye, soda or lime that can be highly destructive to paint films.

Alkyd-  A synthetic resin widely used in the manufacture of paints and varnishes. Alkyd paint must be thinned and cleaned up with solvent or paint thinner. The terms alkyd paint and oil-based paint are generally used interchangeably.

Alligatoring- Paint film cracking that makes the surface look like alligator skin.

Aluminum paint- A paint that includes aluminum particles and gives a metallic finish when dried.