The History of a Pioneer Idea KEIM Paints
At the initial stage of the invention that brought KEIM potassium silicate paints to life lie three distinct personalities prominent in their times: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, King Ludwig I of Bavaria, and A. W. Keim.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
King Ludwig I
A. W. Keim
“What occupied me for a long time was Liquid Silica, which is formed when quartz pebbles are treated with a proportion of alkali, resulting in a transparent glass. This substance melts in the air and forms a beautiful, clear liquid.”
The Insoluble Bond Between Paint and Substrate
King Ludwig I initiated Adolf Wilhelm Keim’s intensive research activities. Highly interested in art, the Bavarian King was impressed by Northern Italian frescoes and called upon the scientific world to invent a paint that looked like lime but would last for a long time. The breakthrough point in A. W. Keim’s invention was the insoluble chemical bond between the paint and the wall.
Impressive Examples from the Last Century
KEIM Purkristalat (Pure Crystals)
About 130 years ago, KEIM developed the silicate paint that proved itself in practice. This paint consists of a powder component containing mineral paint pigments and fillers, and a liquid component: the binder in the form of a potassium water glass mixture.
KEIM Granital
In 1962, the second generation was introduced as a ‘dispersion-based silicate paint’. Its biggest advantage lies in its one-component formulation, bringing easier handling and increased application safety.
KEIM Soldalit
The ‘Sol-silicate paint’ brought a revolution to the exterior facade market. Based on silica sol and water glass, it integrates with mineral substrates while creating extremely strong adhesion forces for coatings based on organic binders.