Automotive Coatings Defects Part II: Weathering Processes and Their Effects on Coating Properties

By Clifford K. Schoff

This paper continues the discussion of weather-related field defects and problems in automotive coatings begun in Part 1. It describes changes in the properties of coatings such as fracture energy, hardness, glass transition, and barrier properties on weathering, and presents techniques that can be used to characterize a number of these changes.

It describes the effects of weathering on various defects and discusses root cause analysis of field problems. It raises the possibility that important root causes of cracking, stone chipping, and mar and scratch problems may be in-plant repairs and overbaking.