Diluent

Description

An inert material used to decrease the concentration of an active component. A diluent may be a solvent used to decrease the concentration or viscosity of a coating or paint. Also a diluent may be an inert filler added to an adhesive or pigment as a bulking agent to increase workability or just to decrease cost. For example, sand is added to cement as a diluent and turpentine is a diluent in oil paints. Water is the most common diluent.

See also extender, filler, and thinner.

Synonyms and Related Terms

thinner; thinning agent; filler; extender; adulterant

Authority

• R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966

• Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)

• Theodore J. Reinhart, 'Glossary of Terms', Engineered Plastics, ASM International, 1988

• Matt Roberts, Don Etherington, Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books: a Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 1982