Car paint rejuvenation and protection

Corrosion, oxidation and degradation commonly spoil the aesthetics, leads to component weakening, the requirement for remedial actions and, in the worst case, failure of materials in products. Often this is directly due to the aggressive environment that a product is exposed to over its operational life. In the case of plastics or paint coatings it can be embrittlement or discoloration, paint delamination or solvent swelling. Metals can be attacked by aqueous based corrosion or oxidized at elevated temperature.

In renovation refinishing, the main goal is not only to obtain the appearance of the original coating, but also to restore the anti-corrosion properties. The process is dependent on the materials and technology used in production process.

In the last few decades there has been an increase in demand for new types of materials used in the manufacture of all types of vehicles, and as a result, the demand for refurbished products and technologies has increased. Currently in the process of car construction the entire cross-section of metal materials, plastics, composite elements are being used to enhance car utility.

In the case of corrosion the most crucial thing is to prevent rusting, that is a consequence of material oxidation, which requires oxygen and water (their constant presence greatly accelerates the whole process). Protection is based on creating an effective border that will prevent harmful substances from affecting the metal. In the production phase this is done, for example, by zinc coating. Even a thin zinc film cannot pass to stainless steel and moisture. Chrome also can be used for this purpose. Chrome is aesthetically and visually appealing to most of us, but not everyone is aware that it is also intended to protect the steel elements of vehicles against corrosion (bumpers, rims, door handles, etc.). Thanks to its properties it passivates and forms a special coating that protects the metal surfaces.

During the renovation of the coating, corrosion protection is usually achieved by applying a suitable primer.

Effective corrosion prevention method involves so called wash primers. These are two-component products in which the activator is diluted with phosphoric acid. As a result of contact with iron, we get an iron phosphate film, that forms an effective barrier against corrosive agents.

This type of primer is usually applied in very thin layers (with a thickness of several micrometers), so it is covered with another acrylic or epoxy primer. In the case of high requirements, a reactive epoxy primer is also applied. Epoxy primers with excellent adhesion to metal and strong crosslinking are excellent water barrier. However, their drawback results in a long time of hardening. Here we come to the most important change that took place in refurbishing.

This is the time needed to rebuild the protective coating. Obtaining a satisfactory final result is a very complex process. When the customer hands over the car for paint repair, he counts on a quick repair time, restoration of the entire coating while retaining its full protective qualities. We can shorten the whole process by using the wet-on-wet method. In this technology we do not have to wait for full drying of individual layers of materials, which significantly shortens the renovation time.

In order to use the advantages of this method we should equip ourselves with the appropriate products. Apart from the epoxy or reactive products mentioned above, special attention should be paid to acrylic primers. For the production of good quality acrylic products, resins with a large amount of corrosion inhibitors are used, such as our new product PROFIX CP 365.

Before applying any materials take care to thoroughly and correctly prepare the surface before painting. It must be remembered that topcoats create not only an ornamental surface but also a protective surface. By using the technology and full range of one manufacturer products, we get a guarantee to get the effect we want right. The durability of each paint coating can even be doubled by caring for it in use and by regular washing.