crocodiling


crocodiling

[′kräk·ə‚dīl·iŋ] (materials) alligatoring

alligatoring

1. The splitting of a film of paint in a pattern resembling an alligator skin, caused by shrinkage of a coat of paint applied over a semiplastic or thermoplastic undercoat; also called crocodiling. 2. Surface cracking, due to oxidation and shrinkage stresses, which shows as repetitive mounding of an asphalt surface in a pattern resembling the hide of an alligator; occurs only in unsurfaced bitumen exposed to the weather.