How Chemical Paint Stripper works? Vitarag Chemicals is a renowned manufacturer of PCR 01 Paint Stripper Chemical paint strippers are formulated to effectively remove paint, varnish, or other coatings from surfaces such as wood, metal, or concrete. The main components of a typical chemical paint stripper include solvents, activators, thickeners, and sometimes inhibitors. Here's how they generally work: 1. Solvents: The primary function of a paint stripper is to dissolve or soften the paint so that it can be easily removed from the surface. Solvents like methylene chloride, N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) are commonly used for this purpose. These solvents penetrate the paint layers and break down the bond between the paint and the surface.