Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The evolution of surface texture in automotive coatings

  • Published:
Journal of Coatings Technology and Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The curing behavior and texture development of automotive clearcoats was studied by noncontacting profilometry and dynamic viscosity measurements during solvent evaporation and thermal curing. The changing surface texture was shown to be a strong function of temperature and solvent content. Leveling occurred during the initial heating of the clearcoats, while smaller wavelength roughness was observed to appear during cooling after curing. The dynamic viscosity was shown to be a strong function of catalyst loading. Numerical simulations were conducted to calculate the apparent viscosity during the leveling process. Calculated viscosity profiles matched theoretical predictions for the behavior of these clearcoats.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wicks, Z, Jones, F, Papas, S, Organic Coatings: Science and Technology, 2nd ed. Wiley-Interscience, New York (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Cheever, D, Ngo, P, “Effect of Substrate and Paint Layers on the Roughness and Appearance of a Silver Base Coat/Clear Coat System.” J. Coat. Technol., 61 (770) 65–71 (1989)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Tachi, K, Okuda, C, Yamada, K, “Gloss of Coatings Applied by Electrostatic Rotary-Bell Spraying.” J. Coat. Technol., 62 (791) 19 (1990)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Orchard, S, “On Surface Levelling in Viscous Liquids and Gels.” Appl. Sci. Res., 11A 451–464 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Overdiep, W, “The Levelling of Paints.” Prog. Org. Coat., 14 159–175 (1986)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Wilson, S, “The Derivation and Analysis of a Model of the Drying Process of a Paint Film.” Surf. Coat. Int., 4 162 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Cohu, O, Magnin, A, “The Levelling of Thixotropic Coatings.” Prog. Org. Coat., 28 89–96 (1996)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bosma, M, Brinkhuis, R, Coopmans, J, Reuvers, B, “The Role of Sag Control Agents in Optimizing the Sag/Leveling Balance and a New Powerful Tool to Study This.” Prog. Org. Coat., 55 97 (2006)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Eley, R, “Interaction of Rheology, Geometry, and Process in Coating Flows.” J. Coat. Technol., 74 (932) 43–53 (2002)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Weidner, D, Schwartz, L, Eley, R, “Role of Surface Tension Gradients in Correcting Coating Defects in Corners.” J. Colloid Interface Sci., 179 66–75 (1996)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Bhattacharya, D, Seo, K, Germinario, L, Clark, M, McCreight, K, Williams, C, “Novel Techniques to Investigate the Impact of Cellulose Esters on the Rheological Properties and Appearance in Automotive Basecoat Systems.” J. Coat. Technol. Res., 4 139–150 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Nichols, M, Ellwood, K, Peters, C, “Texture Evolution During Curing of Automotive Coatings.” PMSE Prepints, 99 187 (2008)

  13. Oosterlinck, F, Steenwinkel, P, Tennebroek, R, Steeman, P, “Waterborne Coatings—Body Building Studied.” Eur. Coat. J., 3 96–119 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Mori, J, Kubota, H, Shigenaga, T, Yamane, T, Kanda, T, Ohzeki, T, Ikeda, A, Tsuneoka, T, “Development of High Quality Appearance Basecoat.” Rev. Auto. Eng., 29 97 (2008)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Bird, RB, Armstrong, RC, Hassager, O, Dynamics of Polymeric Liquids: Fluid Mechanics. Wiley, New York (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Ellwood, KRJ, The Mechanics and Stability of Liquid Jets and Films. PhD thesis, The University of Michigan (1991)

  17. Kistler, SF, Scriven, LE, “Coating Flow Theory by Finite-Element and Asymptotic Analysis of the Navier–Stokes System.” Int. J. Numer. Methods Fluids, 4 207–229 (1984)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Bauer, D, Briggs, L, “Rheological Models for Predicting Flow in High Solids Coatings.” J. Coat. Technol., 56 (716) 87 (1984)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Basu, S, Francis, L, McCormick, A, Scriven, L, “Pattern Generation by Wrinkling in a Two-Layer Coating.” PMSE Preprint, 97 146 (2007)

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mr. Bhaskara Boddakayala for assistance with some of the surface texture measurements, Dr. Michael Koerner (DuPont Performance Coatings) for fruitful discussions, and Dr. Deepanjan Bhattacharya (Eastman Chemical Company) for introduction to the novel rheological measurement technique.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ford Research and Advanced Engineering, Dearborn, MI, 48121, USA

    Cindy A. Peters, Mark E. Nichols & Kevin R. J. Ellwood

Authors
  1. Cindy A. Peters
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mark E. Nichols
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kevin R. J. Ellwood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mark E. Nichols.

Additional information

This paper was awarded Second Place (tie) in the Roon Awards Competition, presented as part of the 2010 American Coatings Conference, sponsored by ACA, on April 12–14, in Charlotte, NC.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Peters, C.A., Nichols, M.E. & Ellwood, K.R.J. The evolution of surface texture in automotive coatings. J Coat Technol Res 8, 469–480 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11998-011-9333-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11998-011-9333-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation