The history of a groundbreaking idea
There were three outstanding personalities at the beginning of revolutionary mineral-paint invention: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, King Ludwig I of Bavaria, and last-but-not-least, the tradesman and researcher A.W. Keim, the inventor of silicate paint. The basis of his 1878 patented mineral paint was a mixture of liquid potassium silicate (waterglass) and inorganic colour pigments. The result: A high-quality silicate paint system that offers performance, durability, protection and colour-fastness that remains unsurpassed.
Buildings decorated with KEIM paints in the 19th century are still in excellent condition today. Amongst such examples are the βWhite Eagleβ Inn in Stein am Rhein and the City Hall in Schwyz (1891), both of which are in Switzerland, and facades in Oslo (1895) and Traunstein, Germany (1891).
Krzemian potasu znany jest juΕΌ od Εredniowiecza, kiedy to nazywano go Liquor Silicium. W tamtym czasie nie istniaΕy jednak dobre moΕΌliwoΕci jego produkcji i zastosowania. W 1768 roku Johann Wolfgang von Goethe pokΕadaΕ wielkie nadzieje w swoich pierwszych eksperymentach ze szkΕem wodnym. W Γ³smej ksiΔdze βFaktΓ³w i fikcjiβ napisaΕ: βTo, co najbardziej zajmowaΕo mojego ducha przez dΕugi czas, to tak zwany Liquor Silicium, ktΓ³ry uzyskuje siΔ, gdy czysty piasek kwarcowy zostanie stopiony z odpowiedniΔ proporcjΔ alkaliΓ³w, dajΔ c poczΔ tek przezroczystemu szkΕu, ktΓ³re topi siΔ na powietrzu, dajΔ c piΔknΔ przezroczystΔ ciecz...β.
Goethe nie byΕ jednak w stanie przeΕoΕΌyΔ swoich przemyΕleΕ na ΕΌadne praktyczne zastosowania. Katalizatorem prac rozwojowych Adolfa Keima byΕ krΓ³l Ludwik I Bawarski. Monarcha ten miaΕ wielkΔ pasjΔ do sztuki. PragnΔ Ε doΕwiadczyΔ wspaniaΕych wΕoskich freskΓ³w wapiennych w swoim wΕasnym krΓ³lestwie w Bawarii. Jednak surowy klimat na pΓ³Εnoc od Alp niszczyΕ takie freski w krΓ³tkim czasie. Dlatego teΕΌ wezwaΕ bawarskich naukowcΓ³w do opracowania farby o wyglΔ dzie podobnym do freskΓ³w wapiennych, ale o znacznie wiΔkszej trwaΕoΕci.
The unique and convincing solution to these requirements was KEIM's silicate paints. What was truly groundbreaking about A.W. Keimβs invention was the bond between paint and brickwork. KEIMβs classic mineral paint was able to strengthen and expand its position as the leading mineral paint for facades due to consistent further development of the productβs positive properties and targeted adaptation to various types of substrates.
In a time of pressing environmental problems, our wishes to see environmentally-friendly, permanent and excellent high-quality paints have become stronger. This wish was met with a far larger mineral product range. In short, a continually young idea continues to prevail.
Technical information for painting
Adolf Wilhelm Keim (1851-1913) is well-known not only for the mineral paints named after him, which are still produced by KEIM today. In 1884 he founded the "Technische Mitteilungen fΓΌr Malerei" to inform about commercial paints and to raise awareness of abuses in the paint industry. Today, the "Technische Mitteilungen fΓΌr Malerei" is one of the main sources of information on art technology and restoration history. They are available for research online.
Milestones in silicate technology
1878
The first real-world solution as a pure silicate paint.
In 1878, A.W. Keim developed the first silicate paint fit for practical usage. It consists of a powder component with mineral colour pigments and fillers, together with a liquid component: potassium silicate as the binding agent.
1962
Invention of the single-component silicate emulsion paint.
The second generation of silicate paints followed in 1962 with KEIM Granital. The one-component, ready-to-use βsilicate emulsion paintβ is easier to handle and safer to use.
2002
Universal sol-silicate paint for all substrates.
In 2002, the development of βsol-silicate paintβ revolutionised the facade market. Based on a completely novel binding principle, it opens the doors for application on practically all usual substrates.
2013
Mineral protection of wood surfaces. A milestone!
Following many years of development work and corresponding practical tests, KEIM Lignosil, the world's first mineral composite coating for weather protection of wood, was launched in 2013.
2019
Opening of the first "Lokale Farbwerkstatt".
Ten years of development have gone into the KEIM PigmentPowderFluids (PPF), which revolutionised the KEIM-specific powder tinting process in 2019. The fluidised powder pigments enable localised tinting for the first time via the "KEIM Local Colour Studio". The special feature: The unique KEIM quality criteria remain absolutely unchanged!
