142 Automobile Engineering Technician
UNIT 7
Painting of Automobiles
Structure
7.1 Constitutents of paints
7.2 Methods of painting
7.3 Painting Procedure
7.4 Reasons for failure of paint.
Leaning Objectives
After studying this unit the student will able to understand the
• Constituents of automobile paint
• Painting methods and processes
• Reasons for failure of paints in automobiles.
7.1 Constituents of Paints
Usually a paint consist of the following ingredients
1. Vehicle
2. Pigment
3. Enamel
4. Drier
5. Thinner
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Vehicle
It is the main constituent of paint in solid form. It is the actual colour
ingredient of the paint which forms the film. It is also known as binder. The most
commonly used binders are synthetic or natural resins such as acrylics vinyl-
acrylics, Vinyl-acetate/ethylenes; polyurethanes polyester, melamine resins, epoxy
or oils.
Pigment
Pigments are granular solids incorporated in the paint to contribute colour.
The pigments impart toughness, texture to give the paint special properties. It
does not allow the main vehicle to loosen the paint particles. Titanium dioxide is
used as pigment inmost paints Silica, Alumina ,Zirconium are also used as
pigments .These materials give better exterior durability or better hiding
performance.
Enamel
The enamel portion of paint is mixed with vehicle and pigment to give it
glazing appearance.
Drier
The drier in the paint allows the paint to dry as fast as possible so that
the paint may not slip down from the body of the automobile to give it a uniform
appearance at all parts of the body. Driers are oxygen carrying catalysts. They
accelerate the drying of the oil film by oxidation , polymerization and
condensation. Most effective driers used are resinates, linoleates , tungstates
and naphthalenes of copper, manganese, lead and zinc.
Thinners
The thinner in the paint is used to make it thin while mixing the vehicle,
pigments and drier . It enables the paint to spread easily and also to be sprayed
as the case may be. It is a volatile substance. Therefore evaporates after the
paint has been applied. Popularly used thinners are turpentines , mineral, spirits,
benzene, dipentene, napthalene, xylot, kerosene, methylated naphthalene etc.
7.2 Methods of Painting
Different types of painting methods are being applied for painting of
automobiles
(i) Brushing
(ii) Dipping
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(iii) Roller coating
(iv) Spraying
(v) Tumbling
Brushing
In automobiles some of the inner parts which can not be in reach of
spray gun, can be painted by brushing with automobiles paints using paint brush.
Dipping
The parts of irregular shape and small in size can either be sprayed nor
brushed. Such parts can be removed from the vehicle and dipped in a drum
filled with paint.
Roller Coating
In automobiles the parts which are in sheet shaped can be painted by
roller coating . The sheet shaped articles are passed though the rollers which are
dipped in paint. By rotating the rollers on the sheets, the paint will be applied
uniformly.
Spraying
The entire outer surface of the vehicle body is painted by means by
spraying the paint with spray gun. In this method the paint is atomized by the
force of compressed air or by the action of high pressure compression of paint
and turning of paint into small particles which travel to the article to be painted.
Tumbling
Small sized articles are painted by this method. They are put in a rotating
barrel containing properly mixed paint . The barrel is closed and rotated for a
suitable amount of time. Articles get coated with paint and after taking out, they
will be finally dried.
7.3 Painting Procedure
As anyone who’s ever detailed by hand can tell you, painting a car is
anything but simple. However, automotive manufacturers have developed several
different techniques for body painting that yield effective, reliable results. The
process is completely automated and works mainly through sealed chambers
built onto the assembly line.
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Step 1: Electrocoating
To keep the paint from peeling off or forming unsightly “bubbles” of rust
underneath, the entire exterior must be protected from corrosion. Getting into
each and every crevice with aerosol-sprayed paint can be difficult and expensive,
even with a completely automated system. Instead, chains are attached to the
chassis and the body is lowered by machine into a solution of ionically charged
paint particles. The chain is electrically conductive and linked to a larger circuit.
Meanwhile, the vat containing the paint solution is equipped with electrodes
linked to the same circuit. When the body gets submerged, the circuit is
completed, causing the current to flow from the vat electrodes, into the metal
exterior and up the chain. In the process, this electrical field pulls the ionic paint
particles toward the metal exterior, completely coating it.
After about 15 minutes of electrocoating, the body is hoisted out of the
vat and carried (via a ceiling-mounted track) to a “drying chamber” where heat
lamps dry the excess paint.
Step 2: Primer
Once the anti-corrosive layer has been electroplated on, primer is applied
to add smoothness and allow a top paint layer to stick to the body. First, the
body is lowered off the chains to rest on a floor apparatus attached to a track.
To apply the primer, the body moves down the track into a special sealed room
called a “flow chamber” (Figure 1). The flow chamber features a constant flow
of air that takes vaporized primer particles from openings in the ceiling where
they gently deposit on the exterior for a uniform thickness. Meanwhile, the bottom
of the chamber has several outlet openings attached to a vacuum, removing
excess primer to be collected and reused. After about 10 minutes, the body is
moved down the track to another drying room.
Step 3: Base Coat
Once the primer has dried, the body moves into another flow chamber
for the application of the base coat. The base coat constitutes the actual “color”
of the car, including textural details like aluminum flakes for a sparkle effect.
Like the primer, the base coat’s application involves the continual flow of
vaporized paint across the body for about 10 minutes, followed by a trip to a
drying room.
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Step 4: Clear Coat
Just as the electrocoating protects metal from corrosion, the clear coat
protects the base coat against light scratches, organic solvents, water and UV
sun damage. As the name suggests, it is transparent, showcasing the base coat
like glass does a picture. Typically, a flow chamber applies the clear coat as
well.
7.4 Reasons for Failure of Paint
Chalking
It is the progressive powdering of paint film on the painted surface. This
occurs because of improper dispersion of pigment and vehicle.
Flaking
Peeling out of paint film from the painted surface is known as flaking.
This is due to the presence of dust or greasy matter in the paint. Improper
surface preparation may also cause this.
Cracking
Cracking of paint occurs because of
(i) Unequal expansion and contraction of coats
(ii) Variation of temperature of exposed film.
This can be prevented by applying a primary hard coat.
Colour Change
This happens because of chemical effects of atmospheric gases in the
environment.
Summary
• A paint consists of the following ingredients :
i. Vehicle
ii. Pigment
iii. Enamel
iv. Drier
v. Thinner
• A vehicle is the actual color ingredient and is also known as binder.
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• Pigments are granual solids to contribute colour.
• Enamel is used in painting for glazing appearance.
• Drier allows the paint to drug as fast as possible.
• Methods of painting - Brushing, Dipping, Roller coating, Spraying,
Tumbling.
• Reason for failure of paint - Chalking, Flaking, Cracking, Colour
change.
Short Answer Type Questions
1. What are the constituents of Paint?
2. Mention the methods of vehicle painting.
3. What is chalking in painting of automobile?
4. What is flaking of Automobile painting?
Long Answer Type Questions
1. Explain the ingredients of painting.
2. Briefly explain the painting methods.
3. Explain step by step process of Automobile painting.