How to make the coating glow. How to make glowing paint at home. How to Make Glowing Paint: Bright Magic in the Dark

The most frequent request from people who want to transform their space and think about cosmetic repairs, is a luminous paint. Many have heard about what it is and actively use it in their homes.

It is applied to the walls, ceiling or things in the interior, adding personality to your home. So, during the day the room looks normal, and at night it turns into a real one. fairytale house with stars on the ceiling or beautiful flowers located on the walls.

Advantages

The paint has a number of advantages: it is durable, unpretentious in care and easy to apply, and the effect is stunning. This is a great alternative to night lights. It is economical: the paint gains energy from daylight, and at night it gives it away and thus glows.

It is especially popular when used in children's rooms., after all, this way you can create coziness, a feeling of comfort and safety. Children are usually afraid of the dark, and with beautiful luminous patterns, it is easier for them to fall asleep, they feel calm.

Looking at various drawings, the child calms down and falls asleep faster, which has a great effect on his imagination and the development of creative abilities.

This paint is popular not only in construction, but also in various types creativity - whether it is the creation of face painting or the decoration of various objects.

This will add a touch of magic to any subject or process.

What is a miracle paint?

Paint, which will transform any object due to the glow, is of two types - luminescent (also called phosphor) and fluorescent. Very often they are confused, making a big mistake.

Consider the characteristics that distinguish them:

Fluorescent paint is capable of glowing only under direct exposure to ultraviolet rays, which is why it requires special lamps.
Luminescent paint is able to glow itself.

It is the latter that will be discussed now - this is the easiest way to transform the space. No additional sources required.

Functioning

The name of the paint comes from the word "luminescence", which means the ability of a special substance to glow due to its own energy. Special pigments, which are called "phosphors", are responsible for this process. It is they who accumulate energy in themselves during the daytime from the sun or from artificial lighting, and at night they delight our eyes with their radiance.

This process of receiving light during the day and bestowing at night is like “ perpetual motion machine", it can work for many years. All that is required is to apply paint to the surface, and then the processes are activated independently.

Interestingly, energy is generated not only from bright sunlight, but also from any other source (flashlight, lamp, moonlight).

As for the duration of action, 15 minutes of "recharging" at an artificial light source gives energy for 10 hours of work in the dark with a gradual decrease in brightness.

Phosphor is a stable substance both physically and chemically, able to hold out on the facade of the building for more than 30 years, to say nothing of the internal surfaces. You can adjust the brightness of the glow yourself by increasing or decreasing the concentration of pigments.

The choice of the type of paint between fluorescent and fluorescent is up to you. By principle, they are similar, differ only in the independence of the glow. Please note that the latter contain phosphorus in their composition, which is dangerous to human health. If they are used, then only for work outside the building. Phosphor materials are almost completely safe.

Why is she needed?

Such paint is in demand in the decor of rooms, interior elements or even a wardrobe - you just need to apply it to the surface. In addition to the already known phosphor, it includes a transparent varnish. He is the basis of the material. Depending on its properties, there are paints for any surface - be it wallpaper, metal or plastic, ceramics or glass, wood or plaster - there are many options.

Fluorescent paint is actively used in the following areas:

when painting the internal coating;
when decorating individual interior items;
in clothes (professional clothes, wardrobe decoration);
in road markings;
in improving cars;

Main types

All coloring compositions are divided into two categories:

Colorless paints, which are produced on the basis of a completely colorless varnish. They can be safely applied over any pattern on the subject.
Colored - paints that have in their composition an additional coloring pigment - such as color. During the day they cannot be distinguished from ordinary paint, but at night they appear and begin to glow.

In addition, there are more types of paints depending on the properties and characteristics:

acrylic emulsions. They are completely safe and dry quickly. They can be used both in floristics and when applying makeup.
Polyurethane-mineral enamels. Mainly used for plastic.
Heat resistant paints- can be heated up to 500 degrees, so they are suitable for both glass and metal.
Waterproof paints- create a special waterproof film, due to which they are actively used in bathrooms and pools.

How to do it yourself?

You don't have to rush to the store to get glowing paint. We can create it ourselves. There are two options - you can prepare the paint either from the finished phosphor or completely from scratch. Let's start with the first option.

Production from phosphor

You can buy a phosphor in a hardware store or order it on the Internet. It is not cheap, but very little is needed: 100 g of the substance can color 8 square meters surfaces. Basically, the price depends only on the chosen color. Light pigments (beige, light green) are a little cheaper, and brighter ones (blue, green) are more expensive.

It is also worth remembering that the varnish must be selected for the surface that we will paint.

Paint preparation method:

Pour varnish into a container.
We add phosphor powder based on the proportion of 70% varnish to 30% coloring pigment.
Do not forget to add a solvent - no more than 1%.
Mix the mass thoroughly.
If necessary, add color to give us the desired shade.

The finished paint can be safely used and stored in the same way as varnishes of this type.

Making fluorescent paint from scratch

If you have not found the phosphor of the desired shade, or if you want to conduct an independent experiment, you should be patient. The process will be more complex and lengthy. It will be necessary to make more efforts, time, and also find special reagents. But the result will not keep you waiting.

Here, the main component will be coniferous extract, depending on its concentration, we will get the desired glow effect.

To create paint we need:

heat-resistant dishes with a wide bottom;
coniferous extract;
boric acid.

When you have a long-awaited party with your best friends and girlfriends, or one of your family members is about to have a birthday, then the question arises - how to entertain the guests, how to surprise the audience and cause them a surge of joyful emotions. It is easiest to surprise and amuse little children, who will enthusiastically blow out the candles on the cake, participate in various scenes, or recklessly look for a gift hidden by their parents in the room.

In order to interest adult participants in the festive event, you will have to show imagination and organize an original scene or tricks. To help you organize an entertaining action, in this article we will tell you how to make a luminous liquid or luminescent paint with your own hands at home. Glow-in-the-dark paint can be used to cover balloons, ribbons and other decoration elements of a room, and any container can be filled with liquid, and when it gets dark, the room will be filled with bright fabulous colors!

There are quite a few ways to make such water or paint. But most of them are laborious and not quite suitable for home cooking or too complex for an unprepared person. In this article you best options, with the help of which you can easily and quickly (and most importantly, safely for yourself and others!) make a phosphor with your own hands.

First, we will tell you how to make luminescent liquid at home from improvised means, which can be easily found at home or purchased at a nearby outlet.

So, let's start with the easiest way:

Recipe 1

Today, you can easily purchase luminescent markers or felt-tip pens. To make sure that the marker has luminous properties, draw a few thick lines on a sheet of paper that will glow in a shaded area. It remains to pull the fiber rod out of the marker body and rinse it thoroughly in water.

Recipe 2

how to make luminous paint without using luminol? Everything is very simple!

Simple improvised means - boric acid and coniferous concentrate. If these funds are not at hand, then in the nearest pharmacy you will definitely buy them for ridiculous money;

Now pour 50 ml of pure water into an aluminum container (for example, into a ladle or ladle) and dissolve 3 g in it. needle concentrate. Add a pinch to another small container. boric acid and add a little bit of coniferous concentrate solution there;

Gently mix everything and continue to add the solution drop by drop. We hold the container over the fire and bring the mixture to a boil;

After boiling, we wait for the mixture to cool down, add another solution of pine needles concentrate with water. Boil the mixture again until a yellowish liquid is formed - a phosphor. This hand-made phosphor will glow beautifully in the dark and can be used as a paint for decorating various interior objects.

Recipe 3

How to make luminescent water using hydrogen peroxide and other improvised means.

To begin with, let's take care of safety precautions by protecting the eyes and open areas of the body (with a thick cloth);

Pour 300 ml of water into a glass jar, add a couple of tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide 3%, a tablespoon of salt, a little vinegar;

After that, tightly close the jar with a lid and shake it very vigorously and keep shaking until glowing water forms.

Recipe 4

A blue glow liquid can be made with this method, but the color of the glow can be changed by adding a fluorescent dye.

Prepare a glass flask with a tight-fitting stopper, 0.15 g of luminol, 30 ml of dimexide, 35 g of dry alkali.

Place all components in a flask and close tightly with a stopper. Stir vigorously until a bluish glow appears. When the glow fades, gently open the plug and let in air to make the herd glow brighter.

Recipe 5

From hydrogen peroxide and luminol

Prepare a tall glass beaker or flask, a solution of 3% luminol - 5 ml, hydrogen peroxide 3% - 10 ml, a couple of crystals of potassium permanganate, a solution of washing powder.

First you need to pour a solution of washing powder into a glass and add a solution of luminol and peroxide there;

Now you need to thoroughly grind the potassium permanganate and also add to the mixture;

Stir the liquid in a glass. It will begin to sparkle and glow beautifully. By adding a little tap water glow effect is enhanced.

HOW TO MAKE GLOWING SHOES AT HOME?

1 way:

What we need: tall glass or flask, 300 ml of water, 2 tablespoons of soda, 3% hydrogen peroxide (2 teaspoons), thick cotton laces.

First you need to pour baking soda into a glass of water, close the lid and mix well. Then open the lid and pour in the peroxide. Close the lid tightly again and mix thoroughly. Then you need to put the laces in a glass with a mixture and hold them there for 10 minutes.

2 way:

What we need:

150 ml of pure water;

5 gr. luminol (sold in specialized stores with chemicals) or 200 gr. phosphor (this ingredient easily converts energy into a glow);

90 ml of hydrogen peroxide 3% (usually sold in any pharmacy);

15 ml of sodium hydroxide solution;

3 g of copper sulfate;

Ruben or any other fluorescent dye.

Pour the prepared luminol (yellow powder that glows bluish in neutral or acidic solutions) into a tall glass flask with water. Mix thoroughly.

Now slowly pour the peroxide and mix the solution again;

Add a solution of caustic soda and mix everything;

It remains to add to the mixture blue vitriol and a fluorescent dye;

Mix everything thoroughly and dip the laces into the liquid. After 15 minutes, you can pull them out. In the dark they will glow.

3 way:

The surest way to make yourself not just slightly luminescent laces, but laces that glow in the dark brightly. A great feature for lovers of dancing in nightclubs!

But this method will appeal not to amateur chemists, but to lovers of electrical lotions and all sorts of fashionable devices. The design for the manufacture of luminous shoelaces is as follows - we make a miniature electronic unit with a thin LED. This LED will run along the central part of the silicone string that allows the light to pass through. The unit will be recharged from the battery. But the lacing must be loose - if you tighten the laces on your shoes too tight, you will damage the LEDs.

In the photo: a phosphor applied to various objects (paint) or poured into containers (liquid consistency)

VIDEO MATERIALS

Walk on a dark summer evening along Manezhnaya, Historical or Palace. You will meet at least a dozen sellers with these incredible, more for kids, LED toys. Or go to any stationery store, they will definitely offer you glow sticks (and no more light bulbs!). And this luminous paint for flowers!

So, why be surprised that luminous paint and varnish products are becoming more and more popular.

Wake up fantasy and learn not to be disappointed

And the point is this. A special phosphor-based pigment is added to the paint, which is capable of accumulating light in the light, and giving it off in the dark for quite a long time. There are several types of such self-luminous paints.

Classification

There are the following types of paints under consideration:

special luminous paints for metal surfaces - perhaps it all started with them, with the desire to paint your car so incredibly so that the light produces an even greater effect during night races through the streets;
luminous paints for fabrics- such are popular in the textile industry;

surfaces- this is already almost "hot" for the construction industry, which has long practiced glass finishing panels; and now it has become possible to highlight them, or make a luminous ceramic tiles, dishes, yes, anything;
there are also water-based luminous paints, allowing you to get the effect of luminous bouquets of flowers;
there are special- and these are fences and facades of suburban buildings;
again, its own version of such paints is also offered for concrete- it seems that chemists are ready to make any paint glow for any rough surface;

and this is not far from the truth - after all, there are options for coloring paint and plastic, everything that begins with "poly" - polystyrene, polypropylene, polycarbonate. (See also the article.)

Security measures

For the entire created beauty you have to pay - fluorescent paints are not environmentally perfect (although according to the classification they belong to a rather harmless 4th class), therefore they require special handling:

work must be carried out in a well-ventilated place and only in full protective equipment - a hat, goggles, and preferably a mask that covers the face completely, gloves;
do not allow vapors to enter the respiratory system, otherwise you should consult a doctor;
in no case should the material get into the eyes, if this happens, then rinse them immediately and go straight to the hospital;

if paint particles get into the esophagus, be sure to constantly drink water, but do not bring yourself to vomiting.

Phosphor

The basis of luminous paint is a special powder - a phosphor, which is added to the paint. Only a 15-minute exposure to light is enough for the paint to give it away for 8 hours.

The phosphor has the most colors, and 100 grams is enough to fill them with paint for 8 square meters.

The price of a phosphor depends on the color of the glow it provides:

pale light green and light green yellow cost an average of 490 rubles per 50 grams;
white and blue - the same 490;
red, orange, blue, yellow, green - everything is already 30 rubles more expensive.

Helpful advice. Note that the purchase of the phosphor takes place in batches, and wholesale rules already apply here - the more you take, the cheaper the unit of weight.
So, a kilogram of red phosphor no longer costs the mathematical 10,400 rubles, but only 9,500 (meaning averages).

Luminous phosphor for acrylic paint is produced separately.

Here the prices are noticeably lower:

white and lime-yellow cost already - 250 rubles per 50 gr;
white and blue - again 250;
all other colors are on sale for - 260 rubles.

Own kitchen

With the current level of development of chemistry “for everyone”, you can create luminous pigments for paints, and therefore the paints themselves, on your own. We offer several recipes from the kitchen called "how to make glowing paint at home."

Multiple Recipes

The first (we give and chemical formula in case of choice in the store by labels, the weights are given in grams, to obtain large volumes of weight, we simply increase proportionally), the goal is purple:

mix:

calcium oxide CaO - 20,
sulfur - 6,
lithium sulfate Li 2 SO 4 - 1.5,
and one milliliter of a half-percentage alcohol solution of bismuth nitrate Bi(NO 3) 3 ;

the mixture will be heated for at least 40 minutes at a temperature of 700 degrees.

Second, blue color:

mix:

calcium oxide - 20,
barium hydroxide Ba (OH) 2 - 20,
sulfur - 8,
cadium sulfate K 2 SO 4 - 1,
sodium sulfate Na 2 SO 4 - 1,
lithium sulfate - 2,
and two ml of a half-percent solution in alcohol of bismuth nitrate;

we will heat for the same 40 minutes, but we will raise the temperature to 800 degrees.

Third, blue-blue color:

mix:

calcium carbonate CaCO 3 - 100,
magnesium oxide MgO - 25,
sulfur - 50,
sucrose - 10,
sodium fluoride NaF - 3,
potassium sulfide K 2 S - 2.5,
sodium sulfide Na 2 S - 2.5,
half-percent alcohol solutions:
thorium nitrate Th (NO 3) 4 - 1.6 ml,
thallium nitrate TlNO 3 - 1.6 ml,
bismuth nitrate Bi (NO 3) 3 - 3.6 ml,
rubidium nitrate RbNO 3 - 8 ml;

boil the mixture for two and a half hours at a temperature of 1100 degrees.

Here is an example of a successful application - luminous paints - applied with your own hands, completely change the impression of the facade in the dark

Fourth, the color of the sea wave:

mix:

calcium oxide - 10,
strontium oxide SrO - 20,
calcium tungstate CaWO 4 - 1,
sulfur - 8,
potassium and sodium sulfates - 1 g each,
lithium sulfate - 2 g,
two milliliters of a half-percent solution of bismuth nitrate in alcohol;

Kalim 40 minutes at 800 degrees.

Fifth, red color:

barium oxide - 40,
sulfur - 9,
lithium phosphate - 0.7,
3 ml alcohol solution in 0.4% copper sulfate CuSO 4 ;
it is also necessary to keep under fire for 40 minutes at the same 800 degrees;
but if you want to get a real red color, you must use very clean dishes, any impurities can adversely affect the quality of the color.

Whichever color you choose, after removing the mixture from the oven:

she is cooled;
remove the crust, and
ground into powder;
next, mix the powder with nitro-lacquer or acrylic paint.

But the diluent can also be prepared independently.

It could be:

liquid glass - silicate glue;
turpentine;
dammar varnish to be filtered:

dammar resin 52%,
xylene 43%,
castor oil 5%

the resin in this case is poured with xylene;

everything is mixed up;
castor oil is added;
note that the resulting varnish evaporates very easily, so you should always keep it under a tightly closed lid;
paint is obtained by mixing 2.5 parts of powder and one part of varnish.

And a few notes

As you can see, the work is quite delicate and will require building an entire chemical laboratory at home.

Therefore, take into account some more nuances:

some substances (the most famous is white phosphorus) and their derivatives do not glow without oxygen - therefore, if something does not work out for you, check if you closed the glass lid too much;
some substances will glow only if they are shaken and rubbed;
The most common are substances that accumulate and give off light.

Working in your own laboratory requires caution and knowledge of the behavior of various substances.

So:

some mixtures contain toxic substances that must always be stored separately;
when sulfides react with acids, poisonous hydrogen sulfide is released with such a smell that you can even endure saints - but the worst thing is that these rotten eggs block the centers of smell;
sulfides of alkali and alkaline earth metals are also disgusting in that they destroy nails and hair, therefore, without reliable gloves, it is better not to touch them at all.

conclusions

Frankly, you should not take on the independent preparation of the phosphor, as luminous paint is often called - you still won’t get the right amount, but there is a high probability of getting problems on your head, literally and figuratively. It is better to research the market for existing offers.

Be sure to consult with suppliers - the less the purchased powder is unhealthy, the better for everyone, not just for you. Be sure to watch the additional video in this article, it will surprise you and warn you about caution for the umpteenth time.

Glowing paint- a great way to decorate a room, but this is far from its only purpose. Luminescent pigments glow in the dark, helping to create a real fairy tale in an ordinary room. Recently, the scope of phosphors is rapidly expanding, and the trend of decorating the house with luminous dyes is not losing ground.

How luminous paint works, where it can be used and how to prepare a similar composition with your own hands at home - this will be an article.

How it works

Luminescence is the ability of a substance to accumulate the energy of light in the ultraviolet, and then give it back, that is, to glow. Luminous paint contains certain pigments, which are called phosphors. It is the phosphors that are “saturated” with ultraviolet rays from a natural or artificial light source, and then begin to glow in the dark.

Attention! Fluorescent substances glow only under the influence of special ultraviolet lamps, while luminous paint is clearly visible in complete darkness without additional equipment.

Glowing paint phosphors are very stable substances, they are difficult to destroy both physical and chemicals. Therefore, surfaces painted with luminous enamels retain their properties for a long time - they will glow for at least 30 years.

The glowing process of phosphors is a reversible process. These paints only need 15-20 minutes to "recharge" and absorb the energy of light: then the surface will glow for at least eight hours in total darkness.

Important! The level of brightness of luminous paint directly depends on the amount of phosphors in its composition.

Do not confuse luminescent paints with phosphorescent paints, which contain phosphorus, which is considered a hazardous substance. Such dyes are suitable only for outdoor use, while luminous enamels based on phosphors can be used even in children's rooms - they are absolutely non-toxic.

Where Can I Use Glow Paint?

The second component of luminous enamel (after the phosphor) is varnish. The scope of the paint depends on the quality and composition of this varnish. As a rule, the varnish is colorless, it can be used for finishing wood, plastic, drywall, metal, plaster, wallpaper, glass or tiles and other surfaces.

Luminous paints are used even for painting on the body (body art) and for decorating living plants. The composition of such dyes should be an acrylic water-based emulsion.

Thanks to this composition, luminous paint has a very wide range of applications:

in the manufacture of road signs and signs, marking on asphalt, marking fences or poles;
For decorative design interiors - wall and ceiling decoration, drawing drawings on various surfaces in the house;
to decorate furniture or decorative items;
in the theater and in the circus, luminous paint is used to decorate scenery, costumes, and create unique makeup;
flowers and green plants are decorated with luminous pigment in florist shops;
in advertising, luminous enamel is used to illuminate banners, posters, signs;
the territory of a private plot can also be ennobled with the help of luminous paint - it is decorated with gazebos, hedges, facades;
motorists also often use phosphors - they tint discs, bumpers, apply various patterns to the body;
still luminous enamel is used in the atelier for tailoring workwear: they put marks on the uniform of road or emergency workers, for example.

Do not forget that the possibilities of using luminous enamel depend on the varnish included in its composition.

Varieties of luminous dyes

Paints that glow in the dark are divided into two main groups:

Translucent, which are often called colorless. The basis of such compositions is a transparent varnish. You can apply paint on almost any surface, even with a pattern, because during the day the paint layer remains invisible.
Color dyes consist of a phosphor and a pigment. In the daytime, the surfaces treated by them look like they were painted in the usual way, and at night they begin to glow.

Depending on the chemical composition luminous paint differ and its operational characteristics. On this basis, luminescent paints and varnishes are divided into the following groups:

Paints for plastic surfaces, characterized by high adhesion - polyurethane-mineral enamels.
Safe and fast drying water based acrylic emulsions.
Heat-resistant dyes intended for hot glass, ceramics, metal, the coating of which can withstand heating up to 500 degrees.
Waterproof dyes that can be used in bathrooms and even swimming pools, creating a water-repellent film on the surface.

Important! Luminescent paints have a lot of advantages, but there is also a significant drawback - luminous enamels are very expensive.

How to make glow paint at home

It is quite possible to prepare glowing paint at home. To do this, you will have to get the main component - the phosphor. You can buy this substance through the Internet or in large hardware stores. The cost of a phosphor depends on the intensity of its color: the lighter the shade of the glow, the cheaper the substance.

Attention! On average, about 100 grams of phosphor will be required to process 8 squares of the surface.

The second ingredient - varnish - should be selected depending on which surface will be painted. Only in this way the finished dye will hold securely and last a long time.

So, it is necessary to prepare luminous paint in the following sequence:

varnish is poured into a glass or ceramic container;
add phosphor in powder, based on the proportion of 30% of the substance to 70% of varnish;
drip a little solvent (no more than 1% of the total mass);
if it is necessary to prepare a color dye, add a suitable color;
mix all components well.

The paint made according to this recipe can be used in the same way as the purchased luminous enamel. The terms and method of storage of the composition depend on the qualities of the varnish that was used to prepare the luminous enamel.

Advice! It is convenient to spray luminescent paints with a can, you can use a brush or even a roller for application - the choice of application method largely depends on the consistency of the dye and the properties of the varnish included in its composition.

How to make your own glow powder

With some knowledge of chemistry and access to reagents, you can try to prepare the phosphor at home. This can save most of the amount, but you have to work hard.

Luminous walls in the apartment are modern, unusual, in a word - very original. Only neon luminous paint is not sold in stores. Consider whether it is possible to make such paint with your own hands.

A little about the phenomenon of luminescence and its effects

Glow in the dark can be any materials that are treated with phosphors - special substances containing phosphorus compounds or zinc sulfide. In some cases, the glow is caused only when the phosphor is exposed to an external radiation source - electromagnetic or ultraviolet. This is how cathode ray tubes of television receivers or fluorescent lamps glow.

There are two types of phosphors:

Substances of organic origin, the basis of which are derivatives of naphthalic acid. Their glow occurs under the influence of ionizing radiation. Feature organic phosphors - their ability to emit short flashes.
Phosphors on an inorganic basis, which are created on the basis of crystal phosphorus compositions and have the ability to constantly glow.

Phosphor compositions are widely used in the production of self-luminous toys, in car tuning, and in the manufacture of Christmas tree decorations. Most of these materials are non-toxic, and therefore the proximity of a person to phosphors does not do him any harm.

The choice of the type of phosphor at home is determined by the effect that you want to get. If you want to make a constant backlight (for example, the walls near the garage, which is adjacent to the dark opening), it is better to use crystal phosphorus applied to overalls. However, the constant glow often creates inconvenience, especially if it is bright and intense.

How to make regular paint glow

There are several ways to provide the effect of luminescence at home. You can, for example, purchase a self-luminous paint, in which the phosphor components are already dissolved. Often such paint is called neon, although there is no neon there. The glow is created by the luminescent pigment contained in ordinary acrylic paint.

The effect of such a pigment is as follows. During the day, artificial and daylight(this is mandatory), which is accumulated by acrylic enamel, and then radiated into the outer space at nightfall. The radiation process usually lasts from 8 to 12 hours - a period sufficient for the room to be filled with external light again. At the same time, the surface layer of paint again stores energy, which it will release in the evening.

Since the process is cyclical, the destruction of the phosphor components does not occur, and the emissivity of the paint can be maintained for a long period of time. However, such paints are quite expensive, and in addition, they have a very limited palette of shades. Therefore, it is impossible to make, for example, a multi-colored glow of the walls imitating neon in a room.

At home, it is much easier to make such neon paint with your own hands. To do this, you need to purchase a set of luminescent pigments. They have universal application, and therefore have the following positive features:

Self-luminous additives include chemical compounds, which dissolve well not only in acrylic, but also in other types of household varnishes (alkyd or polyurethane). The varnish must be transparent, otherwise the final color of the paint may differ from the desired one.

In any case, before compiling self-luminous paint at home with your own hands, you should first check the final effect on a small and invisible part of the wall, where external light will constantly fall.

How to choose the right type of self-luminous coatings

Technology will be determined by the end goal. You can, for example, use such paint to highlight part of a picture or panel on the wall, or you can use it to paint a large area of the surface. Depending on this, the type of fluorescent pigment is selected.

The glow in ultraviolet rays looks especially impressive when illuminating the facade of the house. By themselves, these pigments do not glow. In order to create a "neon" glow of the exterior, it is necessary to send a sufficiently powerful ultraviolet lamp or even a spotlight with a UV filter there. Such a solution is expensive and difficult to implement.

Phosphors can glow independently: for this, it is enough to direct a light flux onto the surface for 20-30 minutes. The energy is accumulated by the reflective material and then released into the surrounding space. Before this, it is worth choosing the right color of the phosphor so that the glow does not irritate the eyes and is in harmony with the general color solution rooms.

Reflective pigments glow continuously when exposed to ambient light. It is advisable to do this coloring to highlight the dark areas of the backyard area, focusing the light directed onto the painted wall with the help of reflectors or mirrors.

Making your own neon paint

At home, acrylic is taken as the safest base. However, when painting PVC panels with your own hands, polyurethane paint is usually used. The process of obtaining self-luminous paint is as follows:

Lacquer is poured into a glass or ceramic container, where a pigment of a pre-selected color is added. The concentration of pigment depends on the desired degree of effect, but usually should not exceed 25-30% of the base.
Since the density of the composition will increase in this case, a little (up to 1%) organic solvent should be added to the container, after which the paint should be thoroughly mixed.
To make the luminous composition more intense, a little coloring matter can be added to the paint.
When painting with your own hands, it is necessary to constantly mix the composition, since the phosphors are heavier in mass and can fall to the bottom of the container. As a result, the color will be uneven.

Preparing the walls for painting does not have any special features.

It is important that the original surface is uniform in texture and clean. It should be noted that on lighter surfaces, the self-glow effect of the walls will be more expressive.

Therefore, it is better to make a light primer of the original surface with your own hands before painting it.