TECHNICAL TERMS, TIPS & TRICKS Paint defects can be caused by a whole range of sources, from refinishing mistakes to external influences.

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR VEHICLE PAINTWORK AFTERCARE We cannot prevent external influences like humidity, changes in temperature, sunlight, road salt, industrial gases, bird droppings, tree sap etc. from attacking a car’s coating.

Diffusion of a soluble dye from the substrate through a paint system. In most cases, bleeding leads to a spot-like discoloration of the topcoat, often producing a reddish or yellowish color shade.

In wet weather, a small quantity of water vapor is absorbed into the paint system and will evaporate again in dry weather (osmosis). This process is normal and does not harm a perfectly matched paint system.

Decomposition of the binding agents at the paint surface resulting in the release of the color pigments.

Spots or stripes of light and dark patches, mainly seen in metallic finishes.

Paint damage showing as irregularly shaped blister-like lifting of the paint surface.

Cracks of various lengths and depths.

Round recesses with a diameter from 0.5 to 3 mm. The appearance ranges from very flat depressions in the final layer of paintwork to serious wetting problems that go all the way down to the substrate.

Swelling and lifting of lower paint layers when new paint is applied. Problem may occur during painting or drying.

Usually small, irregular lifting of the paint film caused by foreign matter (e.g., dust/dirt) which can occur in different sizes, shapes, types and patterns.

Visible edge marking/mapping of the old paintwork in the paintwork surface or body filler or filler spots.

Break or crack lines in the paint finish after mechanical stress. In severe cases the plastic may also crack. This problem is normally associated with soft flexible parts (e.g., PU rear spoilers).

Delamination of the total paint system from the substrate.

Spots of corrosion on top of the paint surface

Loss of adhesion can manifest itself in two different ways: there can either be a lack of adhesion between the substrate and the whole paint system or a lack of intercoat adhesion (between the individual coats).

Metamerism is the effect where a color that appears the same shade to a second color under certain conditions, e.g., in daylight, may look totally different under different conditions, e.g., when viewed in artificial light such as garage or street lighting.

Poor surface texture of the paint finish (poor spray pattern)

Finely atomized paint droplets from the painting process stuck to the surface, or paint droplets that have not been absorbed by the paint film.

Overspray clusters from the painting process trapped in the new paint finish.

All Information about THE SAND-THROUGH METHOD

Small holes in the new paintwork as a result of improper sanding of solvent boils in lower paint layers.

Very fine lines in the paint surface with a low gloss and grayish appearance.

Substrate shows through. Old paintwork or body filler spots: are not hidden by the topcoat.

Drips, runs or sags in the paint finish on vertical surfaces.

Sanding marks in the substrate show as lines in the surface of the refinish paint.

Thread-like fine scratches which are often in parallel lines and are particularly visible on darker colors. The surface has a reduced gloss level and appears grey in shade.

Very slow evaporation of residual solvent from fresh paintwork. This causes widespread sinkage of the paint surface which can result in loss of gloss (haze) and locally also in edge markings/mapping. (see "Edge marking”).