Inhibition of Paint-Product Skin Formation

Abstract

Paint in a container is inhibited against skinning by providing a layer of a barrier material comprising an non-VOC inhibiting composition and optionally water on the upper surface the bulk paint in the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of inhibiting non-dispersible paint skin formation on non-submerged surfaces of a container containing paint, wherein the paint has an upper surface exposed to air within the container, comprising:
 (a) providing a non-VOC barrier material;   (b) disposing a layer of the barrier material over the upper exposed surface of the paint in the container to provide a layer of barrier material which floats on a substantial portion of the upper surface of the paint;   (c) closing the container while maintaining the layer of barrier material on the upper surface of the paint.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inhibiting composition comprises a polyol having a boiling point of at least about 250° C. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the barrier material further comprises water. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier material comprises a solution of a low surface tension material and water. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the barrier material comprises about 0.5% to about 2.5% by weight low surface tension material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the low surface tension material is a phosphate ester surfactant. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disposing a layer of the barrier material over the upper exposed surface of the paint comprises disposing about 0.4 to about 8 ounces of barrier material. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disposing a layer of the barrier material over the upper exposed surface of the paint comprises disposing about 2 to about 6 ounces of barrier material. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier material comprises a preservative. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the preservative is selected from 2-bromo-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol, glutaraldehyde, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one/2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, 1-(3-chloroallyl)-3,5,7-triaza-1-azoniaadamantane chloride, hexahydro-1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine, polyaminopropyl biguanide, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A method of inhibiting non-dispersible, water insoluble, paint skin formation on non-submerged surfaces of a container containing paint, wherein the filled paint has an upper surface exposed to air within the container comprising:
 (a) delivering a paint composition to an open upright plastic container comprising a body having a bottom, at least four sidewalls and a neck, wherein said neck includes threads for receiving mating threads on a lid, said container body comprising an integral handle for lifting said container;   (b) delivering a sufficient amount of a no VOC barrier material to the open upright plastic container to provide a layer of barrier material which substantially covers a top surface of the paint composition;   (c) closing the container with a lid comprising threads to match the threads on the container neck.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the barrier material further comprises a preservative. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the barrier material comprises a solution of a low surface tension material and water. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the low surface tension material is a phosphate ester surfactant. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the barrier material is delivered to the open container after the paint composition is delivered to the container. 
     
     
         16 . A paint container comprising:
 (a) a container a lid assembly;   (b) a paint composition in said container, wherein said paint composition has a top surface;   (c) a non-VOC barrier material positioned as a layer on said top surface of said paint composition.