“Fan Li Shui” (English name Varnish) is a phonetic translation of the English term—rarely familiar to most—but “Nisi” (English name Clear Coating) is widely known and commonly used; “Ban Li Shu” is the colloquial term for Nisi.

Lacquer is a type of paint that contains no resins or solvents—or, alternatively, is made from resins combined with oils and solvents to create a coloring substance. When applied to a surface, the solvent evaporates, leaving behind a transparent, smooth film formed by the resin (or resin-oil mixture). This film preserves the original texture of the object while offering durability, along with resistance to acids and oils. Lacquer can be used to create coatings that are either brushed, sprayed, engraved, protective, decorative, or even endowed with specialized properties. Lacquers are broadly categorized into two types: thermosetting lacquers and thermoplastic lacquers. They find extensive use in applications such as coating furniture, flooring, windows, doors, and even automobiles. When pigments are added to lacquer, it transforms into what’s known as enamel paint. Thanks to the presence of lacquer, the various tools and equipment we rely on today not only look elegant and sophisticated but also deliver exceptional comfort and longevity, enriching our daily lives. Moreover, the vibrant interplay of colors created by combining lacquer with pigments brings boundless creativity and imagination to our world, making it richer and more dynamic than ever before. Specialized lacquers further enhance materials by imparting unique properties—such as conductivity, insulation, heat resistance, cold resistance, weather resistance, moisture resistance, and lightfastness—thereby boosting the performance of diverse materials and expanding their potential applications. These versatile lacquers are indispensable across countless industries, particularly in fields like marine engineering and aerospace.

　　According to China's national standard GB/T 5206.1-85, "Vocabulary of Paints and Varnishes — Part 1: General Terms," the term "semi-solid" is no longer used. Therefore, "fanlishui" is now consistently referred to as either varnish or paint.

　　What is the manufacturing process for Fanli Water?

　　As mentioned above, there are numerous varieties of varnish, each crafted using a variety of manufacturing processes. Generally speaking, these processes fall into three main categories: preparation of the paint (film-forming material), preparation of the color paste, and formulation. Unlike clear varnishes, which do not require tinting, this process involves only two steps: paint preparation and formulation.

　　(1) Preparation of oil-based paints: Among the 17 varieties mentioned above, formulations for oil-based coatings—including oil paints, natural resin paints, asphalt paints, phenolic resin paints, and alkyd resin paints—contain vegetable oils. Before preparing these paints, the vegetable oils must first be refined. Depending on the level of free fatty acids present, alkali refining is employed to remove free acids and impurities from the oil, thereby reducing the acid value and achieving initial purification. Alternatively, the oil can be treated with highly adsorptive materials like acidic white earth—a process known as "earth bleaching"—to eliminate odors and discoloration. Finally, the refined oil may undergo further refining at temperatures up to 280°C for an extended period, during which oxidation and polymerization occur, causing the molecules to enlarge and the viscosity to increase. Once cooled, this results in either "refined oil" or "cooked oil," which can then be combined with other resins to create clear varnishes.

　　Different types of varnishes have their own manufacturing processes, depending on the properties of the film-forming resin and the specific requirements for the paint. Those preparing solvent-based formulations should carefully add organic solvents during the appropriate stage of the process. Meanwhile, there are two main categories: water-soluble paints and water-based latex paints. For water-soluble paints, the first step involves synthesizing a water-soluble synthetic resin (such as in electrophoretic coatings). In contrast, water-based coating resins are produced by vigorously stirring with an emulsifier to create a stable emulsion.

(2) All wet processes: Paint is prepared according to a prescribed formula, mixing the paint with auxiliary ingredients (if coloring is required), to achieve specified viscosity, fineness, and other key indicators—ultimately ensuring the final clear-coat product meets quality standards through filtration.