T

Tack free
Completion of the initial cure process of a coating. Airborne dust and soil will no longer be trapped in the coating.

Telegraphing
Coating defect: revealing of the substrate surface profile through the coating after cure. Commonly caused by not using a surfacer or filler.

Texturing additive
Additive used to provide specific textures to coatings due to their particle size or shape.

Thermal controller
Additive used to help the paint keeping its initial properties when exposed to heat or fire.

Thermoplastic
Resin that will repeatedly soften when heated and harden when cooled. Typical of the thermoplastics family are the styrene polymers and copolymers, acrylics, cellulosics, vinyls, ... .

Thermoset
Resin that will undergo or has undergone a chemical reaction by the action of heat, catalysts, ultra-violet light, etc., leading to a relatively infusible state. Typical of the plastics in the thermosetting family are the aminos, polyesters, alkyds, epoxies, and phenolics.

Thickener
Additive used to raise or control the viscosity without the necessity for major changes in the total solids content. Organic or inorganic, generally considered as being either pseudoplastic or thixotropic in nature.
Syn. Rheology modifier, Viscosity modifier

Thinner
Liquid (solvent) added to a coating to adjust viscosity.
Syn. Diluent

Thixotropic agent
Full bodied material that brings thixotropy to a paint formulation.

Thixotropy
Property of certain materials to soften or liquify upon agitation (viscosity decreases upon application of shear during brushing or roller), and to stiffen to its original state when allowed to rest (viscosity increases). A product that possesses thixotropy can resist the pull of gravity.
Syn. Thixotropic flow behavior

Topcoat
Final paint film applied to a surface.

Two-pack system
Coating which is supplied in two parts and must be mixed in the correct proportions before use in order to cure.