Anti-Foaming agent:-
A product used to diminish the tendency for the formulation of air bubbles during the manufacture of water-based coating systems.

Abrasion:-
Wearing away of a surface by action such as rubbing, scraping or erosion

Accelerator:-
Any substance that increases the speed of a chemical reaction. In paint terms, it usually indicates a material that hastens the curing or cross linking of a resin system

Acid value:-
The number of milligrams of KOH required to neutralise the free acids in 1 gram of vegetable oil, resin etc

Additive:-
Any substance added, in small quantities, to a coating material to improve or modify one or properties.

Adhesion:-
The degree of attachment between a film of a coating material and the substrate with which it is in contact.

Air drying:-
The term used to describe drying of a paint film at room temperature or drying by means of oxygen from the air.

Aerosol:-
Composition where the propellant is a liquid/solvent under pressure. Release causes atomisation and so is used as a spray.

Alkali:-
A compound having highly basic properties that readily ionises in aqueous solutions to form a pH of above 7.

Alkyd resin:-
A synthetic resin made by condensation between a polyhydric alcohol with a polybasic acid. The raw materials are natural oils, rosin, pthalic anhydride, glycerol, fatty acids etc.

Amino resin:-
A synthetic resin of the thermosetting type, made by the reaction of nitrogen containing compounds, such as urea and melamine, with formaldehyde. They show excellent mar resistance, superior weather resistant properties. They are usually blended with other resins (e.g. alkyds or epoxies) and are usually cured by stoving.

Aqueous:-
This term means water as the main solvent or diluent. For example the water based paints such as emulsions and distempers.