Automotive paint plays a crucial role in not only enhancing the aesthetic appeal of a vehicle but also protecting it from environmental elements. However, despite its durability, scratches and chips can still occur, leaving vehicle owners frustrated. Understanding the science behind automotive paint and the factors that contribute to these imperfections can help prevent damage and maintain the vehicle’s appearance.
Automotive paint isn’t the same paint you’d use in your bedroom or on your front door. If your approach to vehicle painting is to get a brush and an old half-full can of pain from your basement and head over to your car, you’re not going to be happy with the result. To be fair, most people know this. But many people don’t know what makes vehicle paint different. Let’s look at what automotive paint is and how auto body repair shops approach vehicle painting.
When do you need vehicle painting?
Vehicle painting is a common auto body repair service. It’s often part of a collision repair. Sometimes dents occur and don’t damage the paint. In such cases, it might be possible to hammer or stretch out dents without having to do any vehicle painting. These are called paintless dent repairs (PDRs).
However, collision repair often goes beyond PDRs and vehicle painting is necessary. But collisions aren’t the only things that necessitate automotive paint repair. Paint scratches can occur due to any number of incidents. Low-speed collisions, such as sliding against a pillar in a parking garage, can easily rip the paint off the vehicle. Tree branches, bushes, and even hailstones can also damage vehicle paint, as can vandalism. Last, paint fades over time due to exposure to the elements. If you keep your vehicle outdoors, as opposed to in a garage or underground parking lot, you’ll probably find your automotive paint fades quicker.
What’s automotive paint made of?
Most commercially available automotive paints consist of four main components. These are:
- Binders/Resins: Binders and resins play a critical role in forming a solid film that sticks to a vehicle’s surface. By adhering to the vehicle, the paint has greater durability and resistance to environmental factors.
- Pigments: These are finely ground particles that give the paint its color and opacity. Some formulations also include metallic pigments, such as aluminum flakes, to create a shimmering effect.
- Solvents: Solvents are liquid ingredients that adjust the viscosity of the paint for easy application. These evaporate as the paint dries, leaving behind a solid film.
- Additives: Various chemicals—including UV inhibitors, anti-corrosion agents, and flow modifiers—can enhance properties such as durability, resistance to environmental factors, and overall performance.
As you can see, vehicle paint contains several agents not present in your average, everyday latex wall paint. These components make automotive paint more durable and able to withstand the elements. They also help the paint cling to and cure on the surface of a vehicle.
How does vehicle painting work?
At an auto body repair shop, vehicle painting typically follows these steps:
Preparation
Before they even begin painting, collision repair technicians clean the vehicle to remove any dirt, grease, and contaminants. Next up is sanding. This is almost always necessary if the vehicle painting is part of a collision repair and might be necessary if it’s just a new coat just for the sake of a fresh look. Sanding removes the old paint, rust, and various other imperfections. If the painting is part of a dent repair, the technicians always fix the dent first.
Masking
Technicians often use painter’s tape, masking tape, or protective coverings to prevent paint from getting where it shouldn’t go, such as on windows or headlights.
Priming
Auto body repair technicians then apply a primer to the vehicle’s surface. Primer enhances paint adhesion and helps prevent rust. The technicians may have to sand a little more after the primer dries.
Base Coat Application
After the primer is the base coat. Technicians typically apply this in multiple thin layers. This may take longer than other methods, but it’s the best course of action because it ensures even color coverage and depth. Slathering on a thick layer of paint might be quicker, but it will likely look uneven and unprofessional.
Speaking of professionalism, the best auto body repair shops make sure they do their vehicle painting in a climate-controlled environment, such as a spray booth. Extreme temperatures can affect how the paint cures and atmospheric dust and detritus can easily ruin a car’s paint job. The technicians should also use high-quality spray guns to achieve a smooth finish.
Clear Coat Application
Once they’re satisfied with the base coat, the technicians then spray a clear coat on top. The clear coat adds gloss, enhances color depth, and provides protection from UV rays and minor abrasions.
Curing and Finishing
It’s important to give the paint time to cure. Some auto body repair shops may utilize a controlled baking process to harden the paint layers quicker. After curing, the technicians may finish by polishing and buffing to remove any minor imperfections and to achieve a high-gloss, professional look.
The value of professional vehicle painting
Reading all the steps, it becomes clear that collision repair technicians use methods and tools to maximize the durability of vehicle paint. You may not feel this way when you notice a scratch on your vehicle, but it’s worth thinking of what our vehicles go through.
Automobiles spend a lot of time exposed to the elements, not to mention high wind speeds from highway driving. Have you ever seen a small piece of gravel hit your windshield and form a crack or chip? It’s annoying because now you need a windshield repair, but you understand the forces at play.
The same is true for automotive paint. High-quality paint is durable, but there’s only so much you can do against all that a vehicle goes through. But opting for a high-quality, professional vehicle painting maximizes your chances of not having to repaint your car anytime soon.
