Soy paint facts for kids
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Soy paint is a special kind of paint that uses soy as its main ingredient. It's a great choice because it comes from a renewable resource, meaning we can grow more of it. This paint can also be less harmful than some other paints because it's often non-toxic, which means it's safer for people and the environment.
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How Soy Oil is Used in Paint
Soy oils have been a part of paint making for a long time, even since the early 1900s. Between 1914 and 1918, paint was the second biggest use for soy oil in the United States.
Replacing Other Oils
Soy oil was once considered a good replacement for linseed oil in paint. Linseed oil comes from flax seeds. However, soy oil didn't completely take over because it was also very useful as a food product.
Soy Paint for Cars
In 1933, a chemist named Robert Boyer created a special enamel soy paint. This paint was so good that it was used on cars made by the Ford Motor Company. Manufacturers liked using soy oil because it helped paint dry very well.
Water-Based Soy Paint
Besides oil-based paints, soy is also used in latex type paints. These are paints that use water as their main liquid.
Soy Flour and Protein
In water-based paints, soy flour or protein can be used. They often replace other ingredients like casein, which is a protein found in milk.
Benefits of Modern Soy Paint
Many paint makers are now more interested in soy paints. This is because soy paints often have low VOC levels. VOCs are chemicals that can become gases and harm the air. Paints with low VOCs are better for indoor air quality. Soy paints also fit well with Green building ideas, which focus on making buildings that are good for the environment. In fact, by 2009, at least one company was selling a soy paint that was completely non-toxic and had zero VOCs.
