The paint may even flow around the particles, over time, so that they are incorporated into the film. A variety of additives are added to the acrylic paint to achieve a desirable working. Examples of these additives are thickeners, stabilizers, preservatives, surfactants, coalescing solvents and defoamers. Acrylic paintings are expected to develop cracks much less often than oil paintings because they are more flexible and can withstand much greater forces without breaking. However, cracks do form in acrylic paintings.
Acrylics are good adhesives and can support many times their own weight.
They should not, however, be expected to hold in place very dense materials or structures projecting far from the support. Some acrylic paintings may appear to form a grey veil on their surface or develop yellow discoloration with aging. When they are exposed to sub-zero temperatures, acrylics become increasingly brittle and they will crack. Cleaning Concerns Acrylic paintings attract and gather dirt easily. This means that acrylic emulsion films will always be soft at room temperature and that the paint surface will hold onto dust and dirt and even unite them into the film.