What Does
Percent Solids Mean?
Percent solids refer to the ratio of the solid mass of a material present in a liquid (or semi-liquid) sample. The quantification of percent solids is used when applying corrosion preventive coatings on metals. The higher the percent solids, the more viscous a coat is and vice versa.
The percent solids of a coating may also be described as the ratio of the volume of its non-volatile components to its total wet volume.
Corrosionpedia Explains Percent Solids
The proportion of solids to liquid is an indicator of paint thickness and the degree of protective depth after it dries. The greater the percentage of solids to liquid, the thicker the coat film per unit area of application.
The solid component of a paint is the primary determinant of the degree of active coating ingredients in the fluid. The liquid component of a paint coat is only of importance to serve as an application medium for the paint. It often does not harbor the protective characteristics of the paint to support corrosion prevention.
A low solids content reflects a low concentration, which translates to less corrosion protection.