Surface coatings are applied to materials like steel and timber to protect them from corrosion and rotting, to decorate surfaces and add special effects, and to sanitize items by making them easier to clean. Paint consists of a thinner, binder, and pigment and dries through the processes of evaporation, oxidation, and coalescence as the binder particles fuse together into a film. When mixing a two-part coating, it is important to follow the manufacturer's recommendations on ratios and be aware of the mixture's pot life, which refers to the usable life of the mixture before it starts to cure and become unusable.