… ecological,economical, social

KEIM silicate paints unique by more than 130 years

Pictures above:King Ludwig I &Johann Wolfgangvon Goethe.

Picture below:A.W. Keim, Inventorof Mineral Paints

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KEIM mineral paints are a Bavarianinvention with their roots deep in theregion's heritage. They are synonymouswith the technical refinement and highquality also found in other products originating from this area of alps, kingsand castles. The scientist Adolf WilhelmKeim successfully combined water glass(potassium silicate solution) with inorganic colour pigments to produce a paint that both penetrates and chemically reacts with the mineral substrate onto which it is applied. KEIMpaints become an integral part of thesurface, whereas organic paints merelyform a skin on the surface. This high quality silicate paint system offers performance, durability, protection andcolour-fastness that is not knowingly surpassed. Buildings decorated withKEIM paints in the 19th century are stillin excellent condition today. Amongstsuch examples are the "White Eagle"inn, Stein am Rhein and the City Hall,

Schwyz, both of which are inSwitzerland and were decorated in1891, together with facades in Oslo(1895) and in Traunstein, Germany(1891). Potassium silicate has been known sincethe Middle Ages, when it was termedLiquor Silicium, but was not exploitedbecause of a lack of production knowhow and end uses. Then in 1768 JohannWolfgang von Goethe, the prolificGerman poet, playwright and scholar,commented upon his own experiments,"what most occupied my spirit for a longwhile was the so called Liquor Siliciumwhich is obtained if pure quartz sand ismelted with an adequate proportion ofalkali, giving rise to a transparent glasswhich melts in air yielding a beautifulclear liquid...".

However Goethe was unable to translate his thoughts into any practicaluses. The catalyst for Adolf Keim's

The Bavarian King asinnovation leader

Water glass (potassium silicate

solution) makes the colours!

The history of a pioneering idea

Picture right above:House inWalenstadt/Switzerland, decorated withKEIM mineral paints

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A permanent bondbetween colour and

substrate

Picture left:advertising from thebeginning of the20th century

Picture right:Town Hall inSchwyz with the original paintingfrom 1891

development work was King Ludwig I ofBavaria. This monarch had a great passion for the arts. He longed to havethe fine Italian lime fresco work in hisown kingdom but the harsh climate northof the Alps destroyed such frescos withina short time. He thus appealed toBavarian scientists to develop a paintthat was of similar appearance to limefrescos but also had much greater durability.

The unique solution to these requirements was embodied in Keim'sinvention - a liquid silicate paint thatbecomes a part of the surface to whichit is applied and binds the colour pigment into it as well. KEIM's classicmineral paint enabled him to build hisposition as the leading manufacturer ofmineral paints for the decoration of facades through research-based improvements to product characteristicsand a thorough knowledge of thevarious substrates for the paints.

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Some 130 years ago, KEIMdeveloped the first practical silicate paint. It consists of a powder component with mineralcolouring pigments and exten-ders and a liquid component, thebinder potassium water glass. According to German standardDIN 18363, 2.4.1, "silicatepaints" are accordingly formula-ted in two components and contain no organic constituents.They can only be used on solid,absorbent, mineral renders.

1962 saw the introduction of the"silicate emulsion paint", thesecond generation silicate paint.Its advantage resides in its single-component formulation,which makes it considerablyeasier to handle and increasesreliability of application. Silicateemulsion paints are also covered by a standard as an independent product categoryand, according to German standard DIN 18 363, may contain at most 5% of organicconstituents (dispersion and additives).

In 2002, what is now the thirdgeneration of silicate paints revo-lutionised the exterior wall coatings market: the "sol-silicatepaint" is based on an entirelynew binder concept and soopens up whole new areas to silicate paints. The sol/silicatebinder, a stabilised combinationof silica sol and water glass,bonds with mineral substrates bysilicification, but additionallydevelops strong adhesive forceswhich ensure a firm attachmentto coatings based on organicresin binders, so allowing application to virtually any common substrate. Having anorganic content of below 5%, thesol-silicate paint also satisfies therequirements of DIN 18363 for"silicate emulsion paints".

MilestonesMilestones

1878 – the first generation:

KEIM Purkristalat

1962 – the secondgeneration:

KEIM Granital

2002 – the third generation:

KEIM Soldalit

18781878

19621962

20022002

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paint layer

silification area

paint layer

silification area

Outstanding characteristics and advantages of KEIM´s silicate technique

Natural ingredientsRohstoffe sind

Selected raw materials underlie the unique quality of KEIM's silicate paints:the ideal combination of liquid potassium silicate as binder, naturallyoccurring mineral extenders and inorganic colouring pigments ensuremaximum weathering resistance andunsurpassed durability.

„Silification“, an inspired concept

Silicate systems are based on the silicification of the binder with the substrate. A strong, permanent bond iscreated between the paint and theunderlying substrate (render, naturalstone, concrete etc.). The render cross-section reveals the silicification process using coloured KEIM Fixativ(liquid potassium silicate).

Durability

KEIM silicate paints have an unequalleddurability – numerous buildings worldwide provide proof for more thanhundred years due to KEIM’s unique properties: Potassium silicate as a binderis highly resistant to weathering, the mineral fillers are perfectly combinedand the chemical bond with the substra-te is extremely durable.

KEIM silicate paints don’t flake, the binder does not disintegrate by UV-light.They are ideal for structural soundness,and moreover, absolutely resistant toacid gases (acid rain) and industrial pollution. The durability of KEIM silicatepaints is unequalled still today.

The enlarged render cross section showsthe so called “silicification zone” belowthe paint layer. The binding agent (potassium silicate)petrifies with the substrate and creates apermanent, unsoluble bonding.

Photograph:House in Walenstadt, 1890

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Moisture balance

From the standpoint of building physics,an elevated water vapour permeabilityis the most important criterion for anequated humidity balance. The extremely high permeability for watervapour of KEIM silicate coatings is theresult of a specific structure of the curedwater glass. Humidity contained in thebuilding structure may thus be releasedunhindered and fast into the environment. No accumulations of humidity, which may lead to damages,can occur between coating and substrate. In combination with a lowwater absorption, this is an optimal protection against water and frost damages. In addition KEIM coatings dryfaster. Further, almost no condensationhumidity, one of the principal reasons foralgal and fungal growth, forms on thesurface of the coating. In a nutshell:Under building physics aspects, KEIMsilicate coatings are ideal coating materials.

Economics and maintenance of value

The great durability and weathering resistance of KEIMFARBEN productsgenerate unbeatable economic advantages. Maintenance of structuresrenovated with KEIM products is distinctly lower than usual. Longer renovation intervals thanks to long-lasting, clean and colour-stable coatingsor surfaces save hard cash. This appliesto both renders and insulated exteriorwalls. Thanks to their long service life combined with simple refinishability(there is no stripping needed – just cleaning and recoating) and economicmaterial consumption, KEIM's silicatepaints are a convincing solution from aneconomic standpoint too.

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Cleanness

The tendency of coated surfaces tobecome soiled is influenced, apart fromby condensation behaviour, by the staticcharging characteristics and thermoplastic properties of the binder.Organic synthetic resin/silicone resinbinders become electrostatically charged in the wind due to friction andso actually attract dirt particles ontothemselves from the air. At higher tem-peratures, these binders additionallyexhibit thermoplastic behaviour, i.e. theybecome "tacky", creating ideal conditi-ons for dirt particles to become stuckand collect in greater numbers on thesurface. A strong beading action (i.e. themuch discussed "lotus effect"), originallyregarded as the guarantee of cleanexterior walls, has proved in practice notto be quite so "magical". Paints with awater glass binder are antistatic andnon-thermoplastic. Over the long term,they therefore remain cleaner than organically bound paints.Large picture: Augsburg Town Hall, paintedwith KEIM silicate paints after 20 years service life

Large picture: Town Hall Schwyz, original painting from 1891

Colour stability

The colour stability of exterior wallpaints is influenced by the nature of thepigments and the binders. UV light modifies the colourfulness of organicpigments. KEIM paints contain exclusive-ly high-quality, lightfast, mineral pig-ments. Apart from the pigments, the UVresistance and "weather fastness" of thebinder also play an important part incolour stability. UV light and exposure toweathering sooner or later give rise tobinder degradation in organic binders.Microcracks form, which modify refraction and make the colour shade ofthe coating appear greyer. Moreover,colouring pigments are partially "uncovered" and increasingly exposed toUV radiation from the sunlight. This additionally accelerates the colour change of the organic pigments.Mineral binders such as potassium waterglass or sol/silicate exhibit the greatestUV resistance of all binders and aremoreover absolutely weather-resistant.That means: KEIM Silicate paints areand rest stable in colour.

Aesthetics

KEIM silicate paints show an impressivecolour brightness. Dispersions such assynthetic resins or silicone resins form afilm around the colouring pigment andso modify the original colour effect. Incontrast, transparent water glass allowslight to pass through unhindered andimpinge on the pigment. This gives riseto the fascinating, vibrant luminance ofKEIM silicate coatings. The natural mattsurface moreover creates a particularlyelegant and pleasing visual impression.

Large picture: The house of the Three Magi in Trier, painted with KEIM silicate paints, an impressive demonstration of the luminanceof a matt silicate coating.8

Outstanding characteristics and advantages of KEIM´s silicate technique

Safety

Even when exposed to the flame from awelding torch, KEIM's silicate paintsdon't ignite, completely unlike emulsionor silicone resin paints. If there is a fire,this means maximum safety and no toxicgases - as confirmed by fire tests inGermany and Great Britain. It is notwithout reason that silicate paints are stillthe only paints used in many publicareas such as for example in under-ground stations and tunnels, airports,schools or cinemas - nothing is as important as safety and health.

Environment

The mineral composition of KEIM silicatepaints has huge environmental advantages. Using water glass as thebinder makes it possible to do completely without solvents, plasticisersand preservatives. Over their entire lifecycle from raw material extraction toproduction, processing and ultimate disposal, KEIM's silicate paints have anexcellent environmental profile. When itcomes to refinishing, KEIM coatingsrequire no stripping with its associatedenvironmental impact, all they need is tobe washed with water and overcoated,so minimising environmental effects. In a nutshell, KEIM paints are entirelysafe products for environmental buildingand healthy living.

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KEIM Product program

KEIM Mineral renders and fillers

• Environmentally friendly• Economic• Water vapor permeable• Resistant to weathering

KEIM Interior paint systems

• Highly water vapor permeable• No emissions, solvents, plasticizers• No pot conservers • Suitable for allergic persons• Resistant against disinfectants • No fogging active ingredients• Mechanically highly stressable• Non combustible, no toxic fumes • Ecologically flawless • Mineral, alkaline nature

hinders mold • Color consistent, lightfast

and UV-stable

KEIM Exterior paint sytems

• Unequalled longevity • Highest water vapor permeability• Ideal moisture budget • Keeps facades clean

for many years • Color consistent, lightfast, UV-stable • Mineral matt surface• Highly diversified design options• Economically unrivalled • Easily redecorated • Non combustible • Ecologically flawless

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KEIM Natural stone repair system

• Adapted repairs through specific system components

• Effective protection against acids and humidity

• Broad spectrum of applications• Versatile design possibilities

KEIM Concrete repair and protection

• Adapted surface protection systems(Water/CO2-protection)

• Reliable repair products• Economic and longlasting • Safe through a perfectly

balanced system• Unique design possibilities• Environmentally frendly • Mineral to the extent possible• All required approvals

acc. to German standards

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Proof of quality:KEIM’s mineralpaints established in 1878

Original KEIM silicate-coatingfrom the 19th century in Stein amRhein, Walenstadt, Traunsteinand Oslo show impressively thedurability, light fastness and ultimate quality of KEIM’s silicate paints.

KEIMFARBENGmbH & Co. KG

Keimstraße 16D-86420 DiedorfFon +49 (0)821 4802-0Fax +49 (0)821 4802-210

Frederik-Ipsen-Straße 6D-15926 LuckauFon +49 (0)35456 676-0Fax +49 (0)35456 676-38

www.keimfarben.de info@keimfarben.de

KEIMFARBEN consistently mineral

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Design options with KEIM silicate paints

Opaque FinishAn opaque coating with KEIM silicatepaints is possible on smooth as well asrough surfaces with historic appeal. Theresults are surfaces with luminous coloureffects and the typical mineral mattvisual impressions.

Colour Wash FinishLow-pigmented paints are fascinating bytheir vibrant character. The translucenteffects of this technique keep and intensify the coloured and vivid substrate texture. Low-pigment finishesare used for Historic Preservation as wellas modern architecture. Both facadesand interior walls can be accentuated inthis very special way.

Historic facade designColour and plasticity of architecturalstyle elements as well as motive paintingfind an excellent realization with KEIMsilicate paints. Facade painting of historic and modern buildings stand outby their resistance to weathering and airpollution.

Modern facade designModern and artistic wall and architectural painting are gaining moreand more importance. Full-cover illusionpainting on facades show the extendedrange of KEIM silicate paints.

Creating with KEIM silicate paints

Draping and arrangement of foldsDrapery means decoratively folded andarranged wall curtains which were usedin medieval times. Painted curtains anddraperies are an essential element of theTrompœil painting technique.Deceptively realistic draperies can beportrayed with KEIM silicate paints.

Grey and single tone paintingPainting with differently gradated colourshades in grey or other single colourshades is a special technique both inornamental decoration and in traditionalarchitectural painting. The design possibilities are very diverse: from facade ornaments and pedestal decoration to complex architecturalpainting and generous creative decoration of sacral spaces.

Free-hand wall designThe possibilites of creative work have nolimits with KEIM silicate paints. Whetherinterior or facade design, modern orclassic, low-pigmented or opaque, full-cover or linear – KEIM creativepaints give you free reins!

MarblingSacral rooms, glamorous castles andluxurious patrician homes testify to thebrillant beauty of this technique. As informer times pillars, columns and thepedestal areas offer ideal possibilitiesfor the use of stone and marble painting.KEIM silicate paints are excellent toolsfor this.