Whether you want to take a butane torch to your painting, or throw it into an oven, you may be wondering this question. Are acrylic paints flammable? The answer to this question is no. Acrylic paint is water-based, so it is not flammable.
Oil-based paints, on the other hand, such as polyurethane and varnish, are indeed flammable. Both water-based and oil-based paints, however, do contain pigments that are hazardous when not properly disposed of.
One of the greatest benefits to using acrylic paints is that they’re so versatile even when exposed to flame and heat.
From acrylic pouring to porcelain projects, the possibilities are endless when using acrylic paint as your base.
Is Acrylic Paint Flammable When Dry?
We know that acrylic paint is not flammable when it is in its liquid form, but what about after it has dried? When acrylic paint has dried, it is now a different type of substance. It is essentially a solid. Dried acrylic is a plastic polymer which is considered flammable.
Flammable vs Combustible
Remember, flammable and combustible are two different things. They are listed in two separate categories both with different characteristics. Materials are separated into these categories based on their flash points.
Flammable materials have a flash point below 37.8 degrees Celsius, while combustible materials have a flash point above 37.8 degrees Celsius, but below 93.3 degrees Celsius.
What Are Flash Points?
A flash point is a fancy way of classifying the lowest temperature at which vapors of a volatile material will ignite when given a source of ignition.
The Main Differences
Flammable
- Burns at normal working temperatures
- Has a low flash point
- Some examples of this are gas, paper, rubber, grass, etc
Combustible
- These burn at above normal working temperatures
- Have a high flash point
- Some examples of this are aluminum, coal, and paints.
Are Acrylic Paint Fumes Flammable?
Did you know that some types of paint and solvents used in painting release fumes that can be toxic or highly flammable? Fortunately, acrylic paint fumes are not flammable, but there are a few other types of paint that are.
Products or paints that have have the potential risk or fire or explosion include, but aren’t limited to, oil-based paints, enamels, varnish, and lacquer. The fire and explosion risk heighten if these paints are used in spray form. An example of a product like this would be an enamel that is sold in a spray can.
Other products like mineral spirits, turpentine, kerosene, acetone, and many paint thinners or solvents used with oil and enamel paints also release highly flammable fumes.
Best practices should always be taken into account when using these types of paints or paint thinners. Make sure, to protect yourself and others from fires or explosions, to ventilate your work space with fresh air. Open windows, doors, and use electric fans to help move the fumes out of your working area to the outdoors.
If you are working with a very high amount of paint fumes, it is recommended to wear an appropriate respirator to prevent dangerous amounts of fumes from being inhaled which can cause illness, disease, or even brain injuries.
Is Acrylic Latex Paint Flammable?
Latex paint is also made from a water soluble base. The main difference is that it is mixed with a polyvinyl material that contains acrylic resin. Latex paint is actually a misleading paint since it actually doesn’t contain any rubber or latex at all.
The name latex is used to describe the paint as rubber based, but the rubber is actually man made. This means this paint is safe to use around people with a latex allergy.
Latex paint is popular due to it going on smooth and looking spectacular on both exterior and interior surfaces with easy cleanup. To answer the question, acrylic latex paint is not flammable due to its water-based ingredients.
Non-Flammable Paints
Non-flammable paints are a category of paint which is fire retardant. These special paints provide a protective coating that is specifically designed to reduce the spread of flames in the event of a fire.
These coatings have a similar appearance of traditional paints and varnishes and it’s very difficult to distinguish between the two even with a trained eye. These types of paints are usually used in commercial buildings and areas that are highly susceptible of fires.
