Lead Alkyd Ground 16 fl oz

CAUTION! This product contains lead and petroleum distillates. Read the Safety Data Sheet for more information.

Rublev Lead Alkyd Ground is a blend of white pigments and alkyd for a semi-absorbent ground ideal for oil painting. It is formulated for coating non-absorbent supports, such as ACM, and absorbent rigid supports, such as hardboard. Rublev Lead Alkyd Ground dries within eight hours.

The important characteristics that grounds should have are (1) adhesion, 2) flexibility, 3) penetration control, 4) a type of surface to which upper layers can adhere well, 5) blister and crack resistance, and 6) good application properties. Careful selection of ingredients in an oil ground is essential to impart these qualities to the ground. Ground natural calcite (calcium carbonate) in combination with lead white (basic lead carbonate) and a maximum chalk resistant grade of rutile titanium dioxide have proven to be an excellent choice of pigments in such grounds.

Pigments

We make Rublev Lead Alkyd Ground using all three white pigments; calcite, lead white and titanium white in just the right proportions to make a film that remains flexible, tough and has some degree of absorbency.

The dry ground calcite we use in Rublev Lead Alkyd Ground has a closely controlled particle size distribution. This grade of calcite is designed to provide the lowest possible oil absorption. It offers the desired penetration control with maximum chalk resistance. Calcite aids in forming the type of surface on grounds to which upper layers will adhere easily.

Lead white, and to a lesser degree, ground calcite, have low water absorption properties and hence develop better blister and crack resistance. Furthermore, lead white contributes to more film flexibility.

The presence of titanium white increases the opacity of this ground and provides a brilliant white surface. We have selected a grade of titanium white that exhibits good hiding and excellent dispersion properties.

Many manufacturers use zinc white to get a brighter white in their white grounds and paint. Zinc oxide is not recommended in oil grounds, since it tends to cause blistering and cracking in oil paint and grounds -- we have not used any zinc in this product.

Vehicle

After many trials, we have carefully chosen a specific alkyd such that there is a limited penetration of the oil into absorbent panels to assure good adhesion to this substrate and yet maintain sufficient holdout to establish a good foundation for the upper layers. This alkyd also provides the best possible leveling properties, so brush and knife marks are minimized.