PPG reports product developments in automotive clearcoat technologies

Citation

(2003), "PPG reports product developments in automotive clearcoat technologies", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 32 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2003.12932cab.001

PPG reports product developments in automotive clearcoat technologies

PPG reports product developments in automotive clearcoat technologies

Keywords: Automotive industry, Coatings

PPG Industries Inc. announced the introduction of the "Optech" clearcoat, a one-component automotive-clearcoat coating designed to offer enhanced environmental etch resistance in automotive OEM applications. The coating also allows the elimination of a primer used to install windshields, backlight and sidelight windows, the company said. The clearcoat was developed over a 6 years period and is currently being launched at two automaker facilities in North America.

PPG said the high-solids formulation of the patented Optech technology enables the coating to bond with an adhesive to join the windshield, backlight and sidelight windows to vehicle bodies, eliminating the need for a urethane primer commonly used to ensure proper adhesion.

"Optech clearcoat is an excellent option for customers currently using a one-component clearcoat", said Dennis Taljan, Global Director, decorative products for PPG. The clearcoat provides the same retention strength for windshields, backlights and sidelights as the urethane primer it replaces, but at a total lower cost, he said.

PPG also said it plans to accelerate the commercialization of its "CeramiClear" automotive clearcoat, which was introduced in August of last year following a 3 years development program carried out in conjunction with a luxury-car company in Europe. PPG calls CeramiClear the first automotive clearcoat to use nanoparticle technology, which is reported to enhance scratch, mar and acid-etch resistance. The technology creates a highly-crosslinked network at the coating surface to provide superior properties, the company says.

PPG says tests showed that after several months of weathering and passes through car washes, the CeramiClear clearcoat retained more than 80 per cent of its gloss appearance. The company says it also has developed an aftermarket refinish clearcoat that provides approximately the same level of protection as the factory-applied CeramiClear.