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Lead-free Enamel Painting?  

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We have problem in painting of springs. Due to EC regulation enamel paints are to be lead free
is there a paint which is lead free as such
if so who is manufacturing and details of it?

R Vasudevan
- India

In Europe it is almost impossible to buy paint that does contain lead. All paint is lead free.
I do not know the situation in India but speak to your paint supplier. You may not have a problem.

Geoff Smith Hampshire, England

Mr. Geoff Smith,
Thanks a lot for the response.
May I know what is the limit of lead that is acceptable in Europe as it is difficult to make a paint as Lead free?
Regards

DEEP MATHPAL
- Rudrapur, Uttranchal, India

Deep
My earlier reply was a little simplistic. You are quite right; zero lead content is difficult.
There is no single piece of legislation covering lead in paint but the best summary I can manage is ...
Lead is still used in some industrial paints for special purposes such as red oxide primers for marine and structural steel but is being phased out.
Some pigments may contain lead (as chromate or molybdate etc) but above 0.5% cannot be sold to the public. There are exemptions for artists paint and for use on historic buildings.
Lead is occasionally used as a catalyst for some resin systems but the concentration would be around 0.0005%
Lead driers may be present in some alkyd paints at 0.05-0.1%
Paint containing greater than 0.15% must be labelled "Contains Lead"
Paint containing more than 0.5% must also be labelled with a skull and crossbones.
It would appear that less than 0.15% is considered zero.
When I have had need for very low lead, I have had to test each batch

Geoff Smith Hampshire, England

 

Hi,
I bought a bed for my baby four months ago. The salesperson said they used lead-free paintings on their products and I bought the furniture. But, the paintings is still smelling and I am worrying about my baby's health. Is it normal or should I change the bed?
Thanks for your time.
Ozlem

Ozlem Deniz
- Izmir, Turkey

It is unlikely that there is lead in the paint, but if a strong solvent smell persists for months, the paint is apparently not properly cured. While it is very difficult to say for sure whether these solvent smells pose any hazard, neither a baby bed nor and other furniture should have a persistent smell. I think you should be entitled to return it as defective whether it poses a hazard or not.

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, New Jersey