Air drying lacquers are used as the final coating for basecoats, not only to protect the basecoat but also to provide a glossy surface finish.
There are two basic types of lacquer - single-pack and two-pack. But what is the difference?
Single pack (1-pack) lacquer
A single-pack lacquer is one where a hardening agent, a catalyst, has already been applied to the resin base during the manufacturing process. A single pack lacquer can be used, and re-used multiple times, straight from the tin with no further mixing or preparation required. Single pack lacquers are easy-to-use and fast drying.
If a single pack lacquer remains unused over a significant period, it can harden in the tin.
Two pack (2-pack) lacquer
Two-pack lacquers consist of two parts - a base and a catalyst - and are generally much more resilient and hard-wearing than a single-pack lacquer. The base resin requires the addition of a catalytic activator to create a chemical reaction which causes the combined lacquer to start to harden and cure.
Typically, two-pack lacquers have a much-increased weather and chemical resistance compared to single-pack, air drying lacquers but can take longer to fully harden and require mixing prior to use.
Lacquer solutions
Trade Coatings can supply both single and two pack lacquer solutions for a wide range of diverse and varied applications.