Paint stripper

High school (ages 12+)
Making & Design

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/paint-stripper

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the chemical action?Weakens polymer bonds in paint films through solvation or swelling
2. What is the primary application?Surface preparation for refinishing, restoration, and industrial coating removal
3. What is a paint stripper and how does it work?Paint strippers are special chemicals that break down paint layers so they can be removed. They use solvents that soak into the paint and soften it, making it easy to scrape away.
4. Why do some paint strippers use methylene chloride or NMP?These solvents are good at dissolving or swelling the paint's polymer chains, which weakens the paint and lets it come off the surface.

Solvent: A liquid substance capable of dissolving other substances, such as paint polymers.
Polymer Matrix: The network of long-chain molecules that forms the structure of paint.
Substrate: The underlying surface or material onto which paint is applied.
Abrasion: The process of scraping or wearing something away by friction.