Reactive paints

Slightly unknown to the general public, reaction paints and inks are among the special effect paints. These paints with various reaction effects have been around for many years, for example, we know all those little American cars that children play with and that change color. But what exactly is a reactive paint, are there different types and how do they work ?

By definition, special coatings have two particular properties :
First, they are able to interact with the outside because they are “sensitive” materials. Yes, because they have the ability to actually change their surface color through interaction, not just their look or appearance like many paints, which are well known for giving the illusion of changing colors through a light reflection effect or angle of view.

So what about paints with reaction effects ?

Secondly, they have an often reversible changing appearance, because these coatings are able, after having reacted, to return to their neutral state before "stimulation" and therefore to regain, for example, their starting color. These specialties keep their faculty permanently and have a variable lifespan estimated at 10,000 changes.
Other products, on the other hand, are irreversible, and therefore they are for single use. An example: safety thermochromics used to mark a break in the cold chain.

In concrete terms, a paint with a reaction effect is a paint capable of reacting to stimuli in its environment, in particular changes in light (photochromic effect), temperature (thermochrome effect) or radiation (infra-red , ultraviolet, visible light, etc.) and which will cause a change in color or even a release of light (phosphorescence). A reactive paint is in a way a living paint.

The rust and magnetic effect paint

There is another type of paint that reacts under the effect of an additive or an activator, these are rust and magnetic effect paints. These can be categorized as reactive paints, as the reaction does occur during the application phase and no longer occurs once the paint is dry and complete, but Stardust's rust effect paints are not simply imitations, but living paintings that patina over time.

Thermochromic paint

This is the best known of the reaction paints : many have already seen this car where you throw a bucket of water and which changes color, it is thermochromic paint. It is often confused with a touch effect or a water contact effect. However, this special paint reacts only to temperature variations and changes from the colored state to the transparent state.

Photochromic paint

Similar to the previous effect paint, the photochromic paint has some similarities, changing (on the contrary) from transparent to colored when it is stimulated. In the specific case of this astonishing painting, it is the light that causes it to change, and not the temperature. This reaction occurs at the level of the pigments.

Paint with color change effect
Texture effect for car and motorcycle paint
Paint with photoluminescent effect
Candy paint