Science Behind Fading Paint | Spear Paint Contracting, INC. (2024)

Did you ever notice that paint fades over time? It is usually not something that anyone would pay attention to on a daily basis, unless you were taking a picture off the wall and revealed the brighter paint underneath. Or if you had something resting up against the outside of your house for a while and then moved it.

Paint in a room will typically fade uniformly over time and no one will be the wiser because there is nothing to compare it to. But, if you accidently damage a wall and need to do some touch up work, there might be a noticeable difference in the fresh paint versus what was on the walls, and this could be even more noticeable with older paint.

Why does this happen? Well, the easiest explanation is that the sunlight causes the pigments in the paint to lose their ability to maintain the color.

Without getting too scientific, here’s the basics of what happens:
• Chromophores are the part of the pigment molecule that causes its specific color to be seen.
• Sunlight attacks the chromophores causing a change to their structure and making the pigment lose its color.
• Some pigments react with chemicals in the environment (oxygen, nitric acid, ozone) to cause fading.

Yellow, orange, and red are the paint colors most susceptible to fading.

This is just one reason why paint manufacturers make different types of paint (and colors!) for exterior use. The exterior paints are typically higher quality than interior and contain special chemicals to resist sunlight-induced fading.

Adding too much tint (color) to the paint (coating) will also make the paint more likely to fade. Choose a color that the manufacturer created; don’t mess with darkening up a color you like when painting outside.

There are many types of paint finish designed for different areas of the home. Be sure to choose the right finish for the area you’re painting to minimize fading. For example, do not use a matte finish in your bathroom, as the humidity can cause the paint to fade at a more rapid pace.

Be sure to prepare the surface of the walls before applying paint. Use two coats of paint and allow the first to dry completely before applying the second coat to maintain vibrancy.

Taking these preventative measures will help extend the bright color life of your paint.

Science Behind Fading Paint | Spear Paint Contracting, INC. (2024)

FAQs

Science Behind Fading Paint | Spear Paint Contracting, INC.? ›

Sunlight attacks the chromophores causing a change to their structure and making the pigment lose its color. Some pigments react with chemicals in the environment (oxygen, nitric acid, ozone) to cause fading.

What causes fading in paint? ›

Paint fades when pigments that hold color come into contact with substances that break down those pigments, such as light ozone or oxygen. Some paints can only be applied to specific surfaces or specific temperatures, so they aren't all general-purpose. Some paints cannot be used on certain materials.

What is the chemical reaction of paint fading? ›

Paint fades due to oxidization. Oxidization is a chemical reaction that happens when heat and sunshine break down the molecules in the paint.

How do paint fades? ›

Sunlight and ultraviolet (UV) radiation:

Radiation emitted by the sun in the ultra violet (UV) and near infrared (IR) regions may be absorbed by pigments within the coating and strong absorption of these wavelength ranges can appear visually as fading of the paint film.

What causes colors to fade? ›

Ultraviolet rays are one of the causes of fading because they can break down chemical bonds and fade the color in an object. Other major contributors to fading include visible light and solar heat. Some objects may be more prone to this bleaching effect, such as dyed textiles and watercolors.

What is the fading defect in paint? ›

Fading occurs when the colour of the paint fades over time due to exposure to sunlight or other environmental factors. To prevent fading, it is important to choose a paint that is designed to resist fading and protect against UV radiation.

What keeps paint from fading? ›

#1 Choose the right sheen

This is because certain sheens will absorb light from the sun a lot more than others, which ultimately makes them break down faster and fade. It's best to opt for things like semi-gloss or satin sheens as the reflective style reflects the sunlight, keeping the original color intact.

What is the chemistry behind paint production? ›

chemicals used in paint production include decorative gloss paints typically contain this chemical substance which develops from polyols such as propane-1,2,3-triol (glycerol) with a dibasic acid such as benzene-1,2-dicarboxylic (phthalic) anhydride and a drying oil (linseed or soybean oil).

How does paint become oxidized? ›

Oxidation is the worst enemy of your car's paint. Also known as sun fading, oxidation occurs when the protective clear coat on your paint is weakened and eventually destroyed by the sun. This results in the clear coat taking on white rings or patches where it's been damaged, bubbling, peeling or other signs of wear.

How to fix faded paint? ›

Attach a wet orbital buffing pad to the rotary disc of an electric buffer. Apply a buffing compound to the pad. Carefully and thoroughly polish the faded paint with the compound. Once the paint looks shiny, wipe the compound off the surface of the car using a clean microfiber cloth.

What is it called when paint fades? ›

Photodegradation is the technical term for the pigment in paint degrading and fading from contact with UV rays.

How to create a fade effect in paint? ›

So let's get started with the dark shade first!
  1. Step 1: Import an Image in Paint.net or Whatever. Open paint.net. ...
  2. Step 2: Create a New Layer and Fill It Black. Click on Layer in menu bar. ...
  3. Step 3: Reduce Opacity of Layer. ...
  4. Step 4: Save the Image. ...
  5. Step 5: Light Fade in MS Paint. ...
  6. 2 Comments.

How long does paint last before fading? ›

Does Paint Go Bad?
Type of PaintAverage Lifespan
Latex paint2 - 10 years
Acrylic paint2 - 15 years
Chalk paint1 - 5 years
Milk paint, mixed from powder form1 - 7 days
1 more row
Jul 25, 2022

What is the chemical process of color fading? ›

“It is all about the chemical makeup of an object. The technical term for color fading is photodegradation. There are light absorbing color bodies called chromophores that are present in dyes. The colors we see are based upon these chemical bonds and the amount of light that is absorbed in a particular wavelength.”

Does vinegar keep colors from fading? ›

Vinegar will lock in color so that your clothes don't fade quite as fast—but don't worry, it won't seal in that pungent vinegary smell along with. It will completely wash out by the end of the cycle, just leaving the crispest, most vibrant clothes without the lingering odor.

What causes loss of color? ›

Color vision deficiency can also happen if your eyes or the part of your brain that helps you see color gets damaged. Common causes of this are: Eye diseases — like glaucoma or age-related macular degeneration (AMD) Brain and nervous system diseases — like Alzheimer's or multiple sclerosis (MS)

Why is my paint lighter in some spots? ›

In almost every case, however, it's external conditions that affect the final appearance of your paint color. Typically, touch-up coats will be lighter if they're applied in cooler temperatures than the initial application.

How to fix faded wall paint? ›

If the paint has started to fade and chalk, the only solution is to pressure wash or scrub all surface paint and chalking, then repaint. When painting for the first time, or re-painting: Select a high-quality paint from a manufacturer that guarantees a degree of UV resistance.

How do you restore faded and oxidized paint? ›

Steps
  1. Wash your car. ...
  2. Use a clay bar to remove contaminants. ...
  3. Rinse and dry your paint. ...
  4. Buff/cut your paint. ...
  5. Polish the panel. ...
  6. Apply a protective coating to your polished paint.

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