Chapter XVII: The Sanitary Value of Wall Paints

=Decoration and Sanitation.= The proper decoration of the interior of dwellings and public buildings has become of even greater importance than the protection and decoration of exteriors. There is, moreover, an increasing demand for harmonious effects and the production of more sanitary conditions than have prevailed in the past. Up until a few years ago a great variety of wall papers of more or less pleasing appearance were almost exclusively used for the decoration of walls in the interior of buildings, and their application was commonly considered the most effective means of wall decoration. There seems to be no question, however, that the use of wall paper is steadily decreasing, and that the art of interior decoration is undergoing a transition to the almost universal use of paint.

Modern progress demands the maintenance of sanitary conditions for the benefit of the public welfare, and there is no doubt that from the standpoint of sanitation and hygiene, properly painted wall surfaces are far superior to papered walls. There is an abundance of evidence which shows that dust germs may easily be harbored, and thus disease transmitted from wall paper. In the tenement houses, which are common to the larger cities, and to a lesser extent in the dwellings found in smaller communities, where tenants are more or less transient, the continued maintenance of sanitary conditions presents a difficult problem. Infectious and epidemic illnesses generally leave behind bacilli of different types, which may find a culture medium in the fibrous and porous surfaces presented by wall paper, backed up as they invariably must be by starch, casein, or other organic pastes. Occasionally the restrictions of local boards of health provide in such events for proper fumigation, but too often no precautions are taken to destroy the disease germs which are caught in the dust which collects on wall paper. As a rule, both tenant and landlord are oblivious to all conditions which cannot be readily seen or detected. Burning sulphur, one of the most effective means of fumigation, will generally cause bleaching and consequent fading of the delicate colors used in printing the designs upon wall paper. Washing of the paper with antiseptic solutions will destroy its adhesiveness to the plaster and often cause bulging and general destruction.

Practically no Development of Bacterial Colonies in Agar Jelly Treated with Washings from Sanitary Wall Paint]

=Hospital Practice.= In hospitals, where it is necessary to maintain sanitary conditions, the walls are invariably painted, and requirements should demand the use of paints which can be washed frequently, so that there will be no possibility of uncleanliness. Inquiry made of a prominent surgeon[41] connected with one of the large metropolitan hospitals substantiated the writer's findings regarding the greater sanitary value of wall paints, and brought forth the information that in hospitals under construction provision had been made for the finishing of walls so that a hard, non-absorbent, and washable surface might be obtained. The same authority stated that the common practice, in apartments and tenements, of covering the old wall paper over with a layer of new each time a tenant moved in, should be condemned, and that from a hygienic standpoint the use of sanitary wall paints should be advocated in all dwellings as well as public buildings.

[41] Dr. F. F. Gwyer, Cornell Uni. Med. Col., New York City.

If such conditions are maintained in hospitals, where special attention is paid to sanitation, it would appear that similar precautions should be equally as necessary in public buildings and in dwellings--wherever, in fact, people congregate or live.

=Sanitary Wall Paints.= There have recently appeared in trade a number of wall paints composed of non-poisonous pigments ground in paint vehicles having valuable waterproofing and binding properties, and of a nature to produce the flat or semi-flat finish that has become so popular. Such paints produce a sanitary, waterproof surface, which permits of frequent washing. By their use it is possible to secure a more permanent and a wider range of tints than can be obtained with wall paper, as they are produced in a myriad of shades, tints and solid colors, from which any desired combination may be selected. On the border or on the body of walls decorated with such paints, attractive stencil designs, which bring out in relief the color combinations, may be applied.

For the decoration of chambers and living rooms, delicate French grays, light buffs, cream tints and ivory whites may be used, while in the library and other rooms richer and more solid colors, such as greens, reds, and blues, may be harmoniously combined.

=Defects of Wall Paper.= It recently occurred to the writer to investigate the conditions which obtain in many apartment houses in the larger cities. Inspection of a number of such places, in which wall paper had been exclusively used on the walls, showed generally bad conditions; bulging of the surfaces, caused by dampness in the walls, which had loosened up the binder, as well as peeling and dropping of the paper from the ceilings, were frequently observed. In many cases a shabby appearance was shown, accompanied by an odor which suggested decomposition of the paste binder used on the paper. The writer was impressed with the fact that such conditions could easily be avoided by the very simple expedient of using properly manufactured wall paints, which are so easily made dustproof and waterproof.

Samples of wall paper, which had been applied to plastered walls for a year or more, were obtained, and examination under the microscope showed a most uncleanly surface. Cultures were made of these samples, and bacilli of different types were developed in the culture medium in a short time.

=Experimental Evidence.= That the above conditions could not have existed, had proper wall paints been used, seemed doubtless, and suggested a carefully conducted experiment to prove the relative sanitary values of wall paper and wall paints. A large sheet of fibre board, such as is occasionally used to replace plastered walls, was painted on one side with a high-grade wall paint, three-coat work. A similar sheet was papered on one side with a clean, new wall paper. These test panels were placed where unsanitary conditions, such as dampness, foul odors, and a scarcity of air were present. After a short period of exposure, the panels were taken to the bacteriological laboratory and a small section of the painted surface, about two inches square, as well as a small section of the papered surface of similar size, were removed and used for making cultures. In each case the surface of the section under test was washed with 100 c.c. of distilled, sterilized water. The washings which dripped from the surface were collected in a graduated flask. One c.c. of the washings was used in each case, admixed with bouillon and again with agar-agar. The enormous development of bacteria in the bouillon, treated with the washings from the wall-papered surface, was sufficient evidence to convince one of the greater sanitary value of the wall paint, the washings from which gave a culture practically free from bacteria. The colonies of bacteria shown in the petri-dish test made of the washings from wall paper further supports these findings. It will be noticed that the tests made from the washings of the wall paint show practical absence of bacteria, and was clear, as was the bouillon-solution test of the paint. The washings from the wall paper showed active development of bacteria, both in the bouillon and agar tests.

Note Practical Freedom of Bacteria in Clear Bouillon Solution Treated with Washings from Sanitary Wall Paint

Note Milky Appearance of Solution Due to Heavy Development of Bacteria in Bouillon Treated with Washings from Wall Paper]

_From the Conservation Standpoint_: It would be of interest to sum up in figures the acreage and cordage of wood that annually is transformed into pulp for the manufacture of wall paper. Unfortunately, there are no available statistics on this subject. It is clear, however, that from the standpoint of conservation the use of wall paints should take precedence over the use of wall paper.

INDEX

PAGE

Abrasion, apparatus for determining resistance to, 153
Acid reacting compounds, 215
Actinic light tests, 112
Adhesive power of Paint Coating, 104
Aluminum Silicate, 62
American Vermilion, 64
Analogies of Paint and Concrete manufacture, 94
Analyses of Averages in Atlantic City steel paint test, 235, 236
Corn Oil, 16
Cottonseed Oil, 15
Debloomed Mineral Paint Oil, 18
Iron Oxide Pigments, table, 63
Linseed Oil, 7
Menhaden Oil, 14
Oils used in Washington tests, 211
Petroleum Spirits, 20
Rosin Oil, 16
Soya Bean Oil, 8
Sunflower Oil, 15
Tung Oil, 12
Whale Oil, 14
Wood Turpentine, 19
Asbestine, 55
Atlantic City fence tests, 107
steel paint tests, 228-235
Checking, 122
Gloss, 122
Hiding power, 122
inspection of, 114
Methods used, 114
Results, 124
Auto-electrolysis, 220

Bacteria in wall paper, 256
Barium Sulphate, 55
Barytes, 55
and Silica Paints in Pittsburg tests, 172
Basic Carbonate-White Lead, 42
Benzine, 20
Benzol, 20
Blanc Fixe, 60
Blue Lead, Sublimed, 47
Blue Paint for concrete wall, formula, 215
Blue paints in Pittsburg tests, 142
Boiled Linseed Oil, 2
Driers in, 28
Bone Black, 66

Calcium Carbonate, 60
Calcium Sulphate, 60
Carbon Black, 66
Cause of rust in steel work, 220
Chalking test for laboratory, 149
Checking and cracking in Pittsburg tests, 166
Checking, in Atlantic City tests, 122
China Clay, 62
Chrome Green, 66
Chrome Yellow, 64
Coatings for cement and concrete, 214
Colored formulas in North Dakota tests, 190
Colors, report of, in Pittsburg tests, 139
Combination formulas in inhibitive paints, 231
Composite formulas in North Dakota tests, 190
in Pittsburg tests, 142
Composition of paints, in steel test, 232
Conclusion from Pittsburg tests, 144
Concrete primer formula, 218
Constants of Pine Oil, 18
Pure Gum Turpentine, 19
Co-operative tests of Driers, 29-41
Corn Oil, 16
Cottonseed Oil, 15

Damp-proofing and Waterproofing, 214
Decay of Lithopone paints, 124
Decomposition of Paint, 122
Driers, Co-operative tests of, 29-41
in Boiled Oil, 28
Tests of Manganese, Lead and Combination, tables, 24-25
Drying Properties of Oil, 1, 26, 27

Elasticity and Strength of Paint Coating, 102

Fence tests of paints, 105
Supervision of, 112
Film sectioning, 87
Film testing results, table, 80
Filmometers, 74-79
Formula for Blue Paint for concrete wall, 215
Concrete primer, 218
Para Red Paint for concrete wall, 217
Formulas of Atlantic City fence test, 108
Tennessee tests, 202, 204
Washington tests, 208, 211
Fume Pigments Paints in Pittsburg tests, 173

General results of Atlantic City tests, 128
Gloss, in Atlantic City tests, 122
Graphite, 66
Green paints in Pittsburg tests, 142
Grinding Pigments, 87
Gums as moisture resisters, 84
Gypsum, 60

Hailstorm, effects of in North Dakota tests, 185
Hospital, painting practice, 254
House paint tests in North Dakota, 196
Hydrocarbon Oils, 16

Imperviousness of paint coating, 100
Indian Red, 62
Inert Pigments, use of, 99
Inhibition of rust, 222
Iodine Values of Linseed and Mixed Oils, table, 8
Iron Oxide Paints, 64

Japan driers in tests on steel, 231

Laboratory tests, panels for, 149
Lampblack, 66
Laws of Paint Making, 93
Lime action on paint, 214
Linoxyn, 21
Linseed Oil, boiled, 2
Chemical action of pigments upon, 91
Table of Analyses of Various Types of, 7
tests of Driers with, 24, 25
Lithopone, 53
paint in Pittsburg tests, 136
tests at Atlantic City, 124
Lumbang Oil, 12

Magnesium Silicate, 55
Manufacturing Barytes, 55
Blue Lead, 47
Bone Black, 66
Paint Pigments, 42-68
White Lead, 42
Menhaden Oil, 12
Constants of, table, 14
Metallic Brown, 62
Microscope, use of in paint laboratory, 86
Microscopic examination of paint, preparation for, 86
measurements of paint sections, 89
Mineral Black, 68
Oils, 17
Moisture Absorption, tests in, 84
experiments with various Pigments, 83

North Dakota Paints tests, 182
test fence, 105
report of, table, 193-195

Ochre, 62
Oil and Thinner tests, 202
Oil, Corn, 16
Cottonseed, 15
Effects of Pigments on, 90
Linseed, 1
Linseed, Analyses of Various Types of, table, 7
Linseed, Iodine Values of, table, 8
Linseed, Tests of Driers with, 24, 25
Lumbang, 12
Menhaden, 12
Menhaden, Constants of, table, 14
Perilla, 21
Pine, 18
Rosin, 16
Soya Bean, and Driers, table, 9
Soya Bean, 7
Chemical Characteristics of, table, 8
Sunflower, 14
Tung, 9
Whale, 14
Oils, Constants and Characteristics of, 1
Drying properties of, 1, 26
Hydrocarbon, 16
In Washington paint tests, 210
Iodine Value of Linseed and Mixed, table, 8
Mineral, 17
Moisture resistance of, 84
Oxygen Absorbing qualities, 21
Outline of tests of paints on concrete walls, 216
Oxygen Absorption in Oils, 21

Paint Coating, Adhesive power of, 104
Elasticity and Strength of, 102
imperviousness of, 100
decomposition of, 122
films, action of water upon, 223
permeability of, 71
Testing machine, 74
preparation of, 70
in Hospitals, 254
making, Laws of, 93
Perry's Principles of, 100
pigments, 42-69
pigments, properties of, 42
preparation for microscopic examination of, 86
tests at North Dakota Experiment Station, 105
at Washington, 207-213
supervisors of, 113
woods used on, 124, 135
Painting steel plates for tests, 230
Paints for cement and concrete surfaces, 214
composition of in steel test, 233
hiding power of, 111
sanitary value of, 252
Panels for laboratory tests, 149
Para Red formula for concrete wall, 217
Paranitraniline paints in Pittsburg tests, 140
Paranitraniline Red, 64
Perilla Oil, 21
Perry's analogies of paint and concrete manufacture, 99
principles of Paint Making, 100
Petroleum Spirits, 20
Photomicrographs, 89, 165
Pigment contention, the, 105
grinding, 87
Pigments, 42-69
as stimulators of rust, 223
Chemical action of upon Linseed Oil, table, 91
Effects of on Oil, 90
inert, use of, 99
moisture experiments with, table, 83
percentages of Oil required for grinding, 68
re-enforcing, 89
report of results of steel paint tests, 236-251
Water resistance of, 81
Pine Oil, 18
Pittsburg fence tests, 107
Polar Micro-Examinations and Photomicrographs, 89
Primer for concrete, 218
Properties of Paint Pigments, 42
Prussian Blue, 66

Red Lead, 64
Reductions used in fence tests, 111
Re-enforcing Pigments, 89
Results of new test at Atlantic City test fence in 1910,
table, 178-181
Pittsburg tests, 135
steel test plates, 232
Rosin Oil, 16
Rust, cause of in steel work, 220
inhibition of, 222
stimulation of, 223

Sanitary value of paints, 252
wall paints, 254
Sienna, 62
Silex, 60
Silica, 60
Silica and Barytes Paints in Pittsburg tests, 172
Solvent Naphtha, 20
Soya Bean Oil and Driers, table, 9
Chemical Characteristics of, table, 8
Steel Paint test, rating report, 234
reports on pigments used, 236-251
Steel paint, result of tests at Atlantic City, 234, 235
Steel, preparation of for paint tests, 228
water contact and paint, 224
Structural steel paint tests, 220
Sublimed Blue Lead, 47
Sublimated White Lead, 46
Suction varnish, 215
Sunflower Oil, 14
Constants of, table, 15
Supervisors of paint tests, 113

Table Analysis of Averages in Atlantic City Steel Paint
test, 235, 236
Analyses of Corn Oil, 16
Analyses of Debloomed Mineral Paint Oil, 18
Analysis of Iron Oxide Pigments, 63
Analyses of Oils used in Washington tests, 211
Analyses of Petroleum Spirits, 20
Analyses of Rosin Oil, 16
Analyses of various types of Linseed Oil, 7
Analyses of wood Turpentine, 19
Atlantic City test fence formula, 108
Chemical Characteristics of Soya Bean Oil, 8
Comparative spreading rates of White Paint in Pittsburg
tests, 148
Composition of Blue Lead, 49
Composition of paints in Atlantic City Steel test, 233
Constants of Cottonseed Oil, table, 15
Constants of Menhaden Oil, 14
Constants of Pine Oil, 18
Constants of Sunflower Oil, 15
Constants of Whale Oil, 14
Co-operative drying tests, 32-41
Excluding tests for moisture absorbed, 84
Fineness for grinding pigments, 87
Formulas in Tennessee tests, 204
Iodine Value of Linseed Oil and Mixed Oils, 84
Moisture experiments with various pigments, 83
Paint section measurements under microscope, 89
Percentages of Oil required for grinding various dry
pigments, 68
Permeability of Paints, 72
Ratings of Atlantic City Steel Paint test, 234
Report of North Dakota test fence, 193-195
Results of Atlantic City test fence, 130, 131
Results of new tests at Atlantic City test fence in
1910, 178-181
Results of second annual inspection Atlantic City test
fence, 133
Results of second annual inspection in Pittsburg tests, 145
Showing action of various pigments upon Linseed Oil, 91
Soya Bean Oil and Driers, 9
Tests of Linseed Oil and Manganese, Lead and Combination
Driers, 24, 25
Talcose, 55
Tennessee Paint tests, 201-206
Test Fences in Paint Experiments, 105
at Atlantic City, 114-134
at Pittsburg, 135-148
at Washington, 207-213
Cement and concrete, 214
in Tennessee, 201-206
laboratory, chalking, 149
North Dakota, 182
of Oil and Thinners, 202
of various pigments in steel paint, 236-251
panel sections for, 149
Structural steel paints, 220
Water pigment, 226
Thinner, Wood Turpentine as a, 202
Tung Oil, 9
Tung Varnishes, 11
Turpentine, 18

Ultramarine Blue, 66
Umber, 62

Varnishes from Tung Oil, 11
Vermilion, American, 64

Wall paints, 252
Wall paper, defects of, 255
Washington Paint tests, 207-213
Water, action of upon paint films, 223
contact with steel and paint, 224
resistance of Pigments, 81
tests, 226
Water-pigment tests, 226
Waterproofing and damp-proofing, 214
Whale Oil, 14
White Lead, Basic Carbonate, 42
Basic Sulphate, 46
Mild Process, 46
Quick Process, 45
in Pittsburg tests, 139
in North Dakota tests, 190
Paints, checking in Pittsburg tests, 172
processes of manufacture of, 43-46
Whiting, 60
Wood Turpentine, 19
experiments with as a thinner, 202
Woods used in paint tests, 124, 135

Zinc Chromate, 64
Zinc Lead White, 51
Zinc Oxide, 51

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| TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES: |
| |
| * Page 25, Table VIII: the table header row contains duplicate |
| values which may be a typographical error. |
| * Pages 86 and 87: two section titles are followed by numbers |
| without any obvious reason. These have not been deleted. |
| * The original spelling (including hyphenation) has been |
| preserved, except as indicated below. Some minor inconsisten- |
| cies and typographical errors have been corrected silently. |
| * Changes made to the text: |
| * Page 26: 'as discolored and turned brown' changed to 'was |
| discolored and turned brown'. |
| * Page 87, table 3rd row: '0.00067--' changed to '0.00067'. |
| * Page 94, exposition: some elements re-arranged for better |
| readability. |
| * Page 124: the note at the bottom of the page has been moved |
| to directly underneath the first paragraph. |
| * Page 130: 'MacNichol' changed to 'Macnichol' as elsewhere. |
| * Page 137 (caption): 'Pittsburgh' changed to 'Pittsburg' as |
| elsewhere in text (and in illustration itself). |
| * Page 142: 'prussian blues' changed to 'Prussian blues'. |
| * Page 177: 'pages 174 to 177' changed to 'pages 178 to 181'. |
| * Page 211: one footnote anchor changed from '*' to '[32]' as |
| others in row. |
| * Page 230, formula: '4500' changed to '5400'. |
| * Page 234, table: row for Panel No. 2000: '}' inserted for |
| combined rows. |
| * Index: changed to agree with text: 'determinating' to |
| 'determining', 'Derbloomed' to 'Debloomed', 'Filometers' to |
| 'Filmometers', 'Parilla Oil' to 'Perilla Oil'. 'Grinding |
| Pigments' moved to proper alphabetic location. |
| |
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End of Project Gutenberg's Paint Technology and Tests, by Henry A. Gardner

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