Key Difference: The main difference between enamel and acrylic paint is that enamel dries to a hard, glossy finish, while acrylic dries to a matte finish.
Enamel paint is also more durable than acrylic paint, but it is also more expensive and can be difficult to work with.
What is Enamel Paint?
Enamel paint is a type of paint that dries to a hard, glossy finish.
It is usually used on metal surfaces, but can also be used on other materials such as wood or plastic.
Enamel paint is available in both water-based and oil-based formulas and comes in a wide variety of colors.
It is durable and can withstand high temperatures and harsh weather conditions.
What is Acrylic paint?
Acrylic paint is a type of paint that contains acrylic polymer emulsion.
It is water-soluble, meaning it can be diluted with water, and it dries quickly.
Acrylic paint is available in both matte and glossy finishes, and it can be used on a variety of surfaces such as paper, canvas, wood, and metal.
Enamel vs Acrylic Paint
One of the major differences between enamel paint and acrylic paint is that acrylic paint dries faster than enamel paint.
Enamel paint is also more difficult to clean up than acrylic paint.
Acrylic paint is water-based, which makes it easier to clean up with soap and water.
Enamel paint is oil-based, which can make it more difficult to clean up.
Acrylic paint is also less expensive than enamel paint.
Key Differences
Important differences between Enamel and Acrylic paint include –
Nature
Enamel is oil-based paint whereas acrylic is water-based paint.
So, this is one main difference between the two types of paints.
The oil in enamel paint makes it durable and less likely to chip or crack, but this also means that it takes a longer time to dry.
The water in acrylic paint makes it thin and easy to apply, but it is not as durable as enamel.
Finish
Enamel paint gives a hard and glossy finish, whereas acrylic paint can be made to give a matte or glossy finish.
This is another main difference between the two types of paint.
The appearance of the finished painting is very different depending on the type of paint used.
Temperature resistance
Enamel paint is much more resistant to high temperatures than acrylic paint.
If you are intending to use your painted surface in an area that will be exposed to a lot of heat, then enamel paint would be a better choice.
Odor
Enamel paint has a much stronger odor than acrylic paint, so this is something to consider if you are using the paint in an area where you will be spending a lot of time.
The strong smell of enamel paint can be quite overpowering and may not be suitable for all environments.
UV Rays
Enamel paint is less resistant to UV rays than acrylic paint.
This means that over time, the enamel paint may start to fade and lose its color.
Acrylic paint is more resistant to the sun’s rays and will maintain its color for longer.
Durability
One of the main differences between enamel paint and acrylic paint is their durability.
Enamel paint is more durable and can last longer, while acrylic paint is not as durable and does not last as long.
This is because enamel paint contains a higher oil content than acrylic paint, which makes it more resistant to chipping, fading, and peeling.
Acrylic paint, on the other hand, is water-based and less resistant to damage.
Time to dry
Enamel paint dries more slowly than acrylic paint.
This is because enamel paint is oil-based, while acrylic paint is water-based.
And so, acrylic paint dries faster than enamel paint.
Colors
The colors in which enamel paint and acrylic paint are available differ.
Enamel paint is generally available only in opaque colors, while acrylic paint is available in both opaque and transparent colors.
As a result, acrylic paint can be used to create a wider variety of effects than enamel paint.
Cost
Enamel is more expensive than acrylic.
This is because enamel paint contains more pigments and has a higher quality finish.
The cost of acrylic paint is lower because it is water-based.
However, acrylic paint is more versatile as it can be used on a variety of surfaces.