Practice question · Multiple choice
Oil dries by oxidative polymerisation rather than solvent loss. What follows mechanically from this when building up a painting in multiple passes?
Hints
- How does a cross-linking oil film behave physically as it cures compared to a rigid dried coat?
- What mechanical stress occurs when a brittle, fast-drying layer sits on top of a shifting base?
Show the answer
B. Upper layers must remain more flexible than the substrate
Why
Oxidative cross-linking creates an evolving, flexible network over many months. Trapping a brittle film over a slowly curing, flexible base produces structural failure, while drying oils gain mass from ambient oxygen rather than simply evaporating.
Practise Oil, Fat Media and the Rule of Fat Over Lean
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