Environmental etch performance, and scratch and mar of automotive clearcoats

Environmental etch damage to automotive coatings, and scratch and mar of these coatings are an important element of customer satisfaction as well as a significant warranty repair consideration for automotive companies. The conditions that result in environmental etch are examined and a laboratory test proposed. Data from this test are compared to automotive hoods exposed in Florida. The performance of various crosslinking chemistries is discussed and the requirements for improved environmental etch are outlined. Scratch and mar performance of these systems is also reviewed. We have found that coatings respond to physical stress by elastic recovery, by plastic flow and by brittle fracture. Classifying types of damage in this way is important for understanding the chemistry needed for improved scratch and mar of coatings.