Reducers are made from a combination/blend of solvents that provide different performance and application characteristics, such as:

• Chemical strength to reduce the viscosity of high solids resins
• Evaporate at different rates during the application process
• Alter the product’s application characteristics (i.e., flow, coverage, etc.)

The three types/blends of solvent used to make reducer:

Type	Role
Front-end Solvents	Thins the resins in the paint to allow it to be applied with refinish spray equipment. Front solvent evaporates quickly after leaving the spray gun.
Middle Solvents	Remains with atomized paint in order to provide initial adhesion and leveling (flow) of paint once it reaches the substrate. Middle solvent evaporates quickly after reaching the panel.
Tail Solvents	Remains with applied product to finish the leveling (flow) process as well as ensure chemical adhesion to previous products. Tail solvent evaporates last during the drying/curing process.

Note:

Correct solvent choice is a must for trouble-free automotive refinish application. 90% of all paint-related problems are due to the wrong solvent choice.