An Overview of the Scratch Resistance of Automotive Coatings: Exterior Clearcoats and Polycarbonate Hardcoats

Coatings

Christopher Seubert¹  Kenneth Nietering²  Mark Nichols²  Rick Wykoff² 

[1] Ford Motor Company, Research and Advanced Engineering, Dearborn, MI 48124, USA;

关键词: scratch;    automotive;    clearcoats;    polycarbonate;    hardcoats;   

DOI  :  10.3390/coatings2040221

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The scratch resistance of coatings used on two highly visible automotive applications (automotive bodies and window glazings) were examined and reviewed. Types of damage (scratch vs. mar), the impact on customers, and the causes of scratch events were investigated. Different exterior clearcoat technologies, including UV curable and self-healing formulations were reviewed, including results from nano- and macro-scratch tests. Polycarbonate hardcoat glazings were tested vs. annealed glass samples using a Taber abraser, with the resulting damage analyzed using transmitted haze measurements and optical profilometry. A correlation between the damage seen in glass samples (many smooth, shallow mars) and the best hardcoat samples (fewer, deeper scratches) and the haze measurements was discussed. Nano-scratch results showed similar fracture forces, but measurably improved mar resistance for the hardcoats/glass system compared to exterior clearcoats.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.