PPG launches first use of automotive waterborne paint process in United States SpecialChem - Jun 21, 2010 TROY, Mich. -- PPG Industries, the world's leading manufacturer of transportation coatings, has launched the first use of its next-generation B1:B2 waterborne paint technology in the United States. PPG's next generation B1:B2 (wet-on-wet) compact process technology is currently in production at the BMW assembly plant in Spartanburg, S.C. This marks the first use of a waterborne compact process in a U.S. automotive manufacturing plant. "We are proud to have launched this exciting process as a first in the United States," said Bob White, PPG director, global accounts - BMW. "Our waterborne B1:B2 technology highlights our dedication to helping our customers reduce the overall paint shop footprint and environmental impact, while achieving superior appearance and maintaining color flexibility." In the traditional automotive paint process, the application of pretreatment and electrocoat is followed by a primer layer. After the primer layer is cured, a topcoat layer of basecoat and clearcoat is applied and cured. This process has become a focus of technical brainstorming due to being both costly and time-consuming. The next-generation B1:B2 technology works within BMW's Integrated Paint Process and enables the customer to reduce the number of steps necessary to paint a vehicle by moving the traditional primer application into the topcoat booth. This movement eliminates the dedicated primer booth and all related processing. The B1 layer provides primer, filling, and chip and durability benefits. The B2 layer provides color and additional durability. Both the B1 and B2 layers are applied wet-on-wet and do not require a baking or a heated dehydration process in between. Compact paint processes such as the B1:B2 process from PPG generate substantial savings in capital and operating costs for automotive manufacturers by reducing the manufacturing footprint of a paint shop, reducing energy consumption, and increasing overall process efficiency. PPG Industries' vision is to continue to be the world's leading coatings and specialty products company. Founded in 1883, the company serves customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, PPG operates in more than 60 countries around the globe. Sales in 2009 were $12.2 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Source: PPG
Any idea or indication as to the scratch resistance (hardness essentially) of these modern water based finishes Jon? Thanks for another useful post as always :thumb:
x2 ^^^ I fear a sentence about this release saying something like "Never before has any paint system reached the level of scratch resistance as this, this is our hardest finish to date!" ....I may just retire from detailing :woo:
I heard some scary things from our meeting with Menzerna...about a clear who was so hard that it was extremly hard to remove scratches just after it was baked :yikes:
i wouldnt be too worried my Nissan has a sticker under the bonnet that says "special hard clear coat" and it still swirls up each wash regardless of how careful i am with the whole pre-rinse foam canon 2BM drill
[i wouldnt be too worried my Nissan has a sticker under the bonnet that says "special hard clear coat" and it still swirls up each wash regardless of how careful i am with the whole pre-rinse foam canon 2BM drill] domino Hardness Is defined as the ability of a material to resist local deformation (or penetration) from externally applied pressure, and is directly related to its tensile strength; stronger materials are generally harder. The enamel paint finishes on vehicles from the 50’s and 60’s era were as tough as porcelain. But rightly due to environmental concerns, those high percentage petroleum based paints have been generally superseded, resulting in the softer water-based paint finishes of today and the unavoidable orange-peel seen on many new and re-painted vehicles. Today’s paints, unfortunately, rank somewhere near the bottom of the scale of hardness, especially single coat black / red paint the exception being white single stage and CeramiClear, when compared to all the materials your paint can possibly come in contact with (always bear that in mind). An adaptation of that hardness scale (1 - 10) Talc = 1 Carbon Black [black paint pigmentation] = 2 Glass = 6 Titanium dioxide [white paint pigmentation] = 7 Diamond =10 Hard and soft are both relative terms; you can scratch the hard surface of a vehicles paint with a soft towel by the application of enough pressure. Both pressure and mechanical stress are defined as force per unit area. These two forces are the subject of Newton's third law of motion; the law of reciprocal actions [: to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction] How can a hard clear coat be so easily scratched? Force acts through a body that has a surface area; if the surface area is really small while maintaining an equal force, the pressure becomes astronomical and the object under pressure capable of penetrating the surface of an otherwise tough material. That’s why a micro fine thread that is twice as fine as silk and a 100 times finer than a human hair, in an otherwise soft towel will scratch your paint. And the same reason a mosquito can penetrate a rhino hide with its proboscis (stinger). The Aquatz coating system Scratch-resistance • Exceeds 9H (highest rating) on Pencil Hardness test • Anti-scratch Hardness Mohs Scale – 5 /10 (Absolute Hardness - 48)
so i guess B3 would be clear coat which they dont talk about well, from what i understand they didnt talk about clear coat, it looks like its related to primer and color coat being applied at same time? without drying inbetween coats so i asume clear coat still applied in next stage. but who knows how hard it will be since im sure it will have to be different if it goes on different color coat
Misha - Either that or it's like Akzo's ColorBuild system where you tint your primer to create a lesser need for base coverage.
I agree with Dave. It sounds like a tinted primer type of deal. Even with the switch to water based paints it is only for the primer and base coat, not the clear. The clear coat will alway be a 2k urethane mix.
Speaking of Akzo & Waterborne Clears, I was under the impression that they were the only paint manufacturer offering a water'd clear (non-US market). But I guess PPG is also: PPG Launches Water Borne Clear Coat Video Example: YouTube - High Solid Clear Coat Water Based Car Painting
This is only for the primer and base coat, the clear coat will still be solvent based as a good waterborne clear is not available yet for automotive use.
It sure is: Product Finder Detail - AkzoNobel Corporate Sikkens Autoclear WB PSA approves Akzo Nobel's new waterborne clearcoat Sikkens Autoclear WB (Akzo Nobel) Akzo Nobel is the oldest and largest paint manufacturer in the world and is regarded as the most technologically advanced.
GM has been using water born base for a long time now, if you look at the paint code and it starts with WA that means it's a water base on GM cars
