Difference between Metallic and Non-Metallic Paint for
Vehicles
In spray painting vehicles, the owner has the option to either use metallic paint or non-metallic
paint. What is the difference between these two types of paint and what would suit your vehicle
better?
Basically, metallic paint is the shiny paint, while non-metallic is the matte version. Generally
speaking, metallic paint types are seen more in cars and SUVs than in bigger vehicles such as
buses and trucks. The preference is driven by various factors to be considered by the user.
The Difference
Metallic paint incorporates very small pieces of metal that gives sheen to the paint finish. The
paint allows for better light reflection, giving the effect of a brilliant, shiny finish. The metal
fragments are mixed with the paint itself.
Non-metallic paint provides a matte effect when used on vehicles. As opposed to metallic paint,
there are no metal fragments in the paint solution so it appears to be one solid colour.
Applications
Metallic paint is commonly applied to new cars, giving them that cool factor that every car
owner would like to see on their vehicle. With proper lighting the metallic paint gives off that
sparkling, shiny finish that makes the car look grand. Generally, it is more commonly seen in
smaller vehicles such cars and SUVs because of the owner's preference for a shiny car exterior.
Although some car owners do go for a matte finish, a greater percentage of car owners prefer the
"new" effect of metallic paint.
The higher costs associated with metallic paint makes their application limited to personal
preference of the car owner. In larger vehicles like buses, coaches and trucks, the matte paint is
the more practical choice. Because large vehicles are mostly run for a business, cost efficiency is
important. It would be too costly to use metallic paint to a fleet of vehicles when there is really
no need for the vanity in it. It would also not be suitable to use metallic paint for large vehicles
as it would cause unpleasant shine and light reflection from such large vehicles.
Maintenance is another factor. While metallic paint is very good at hiding imperfections, it is
also more difficult to repair when it gets damaged. This is not a quality that businesses would
like to deal with.
Professional Refinishing
Whatever your choice for vehicle paint, Sprayrite Qld can give you the desired paint finish.
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Sunday 8 June 2014
Difference between Metallic and Non-Metallic Paint for Vehicles
Metallic paint
Metallic paint, also called polychromatic is a type of paint that is commonly used on new automobiles. Metallic paint can reveal the contours of bodywork more than non-metallic, or "solid" paint. Close-up, the small metal flakes included in the paint create a sparkling effect. This should not be confused with metal flake paint.
Description[edit]
Metallics nearly always consist of a base coat with a clear lacquer or urethane top coat for protection and extra gloss. Historically, it was difficult to achieve an invisible repair if the paint was damaged because it is critical at which angle the flakes in the paint lie. Modern techniques have more or less eliminated this problem.
Variations[edit]
Two rarer variations are pearlescent paint, which appears as subtly different colours depending on the angle and intensity of the light, and "flip" colours where the colour changes more radically (e.g. from purple to orange) depending on the viewing angle. Flip colours have been used by Nissan on some special parts, and are frequently associated with TVRcars.
A final variation, hardly ever used on automobiles but common on bikes and motorcycles, is "flamboyant" or "candy apple" paint. This consists of a metallic silver base coat covered with a translucent coloured lacquer, or more commonly urethane. Flamboyant paint gives an unusual effect of depth, but is almost impossible to touch up after damage without leaving an obvious mark.
Expense[edit]
Luxury car manufacturers (particularly German marques such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz) almost always charge a premium for the "option" of metallic paint on a new vehicle. This is often considered a captive market as metallic paints usually account for all but one or two of the colors from the palette available (only red, black, and white are available as solid colors from many brands). Buyers may choose to pay it, in some cases merely to maintain resale value.
The price premium for metallic paint is GBP 500 or USD 1000 for a large car, while pearlescent paint (such as White Diamond Pearl) is even more expensive. For BMW Canada and BMW North America, the metallic paint premium applies to entry-level offerings such as the BMW 3 Series (resulting in a disproportionate number of 3 Series cars sold in the late 2000s being white)[1] and the BMW X1, while more expensive cars such as the BMW 5 Series have metallic paint as a no-charge option.
Given that having a car subsequently resprayed in a metallic color is no more expensive than for a solid color, many consider the price premium for metallic paint as a way to boost the base price of a luxury car. Japanese luxury marques and many mass market brands usually do not charge extra for metallic paint.
automobile PAINT TYPES
This is an article that I wrote (using various references) for my modeling club newsletter last month. It may not answer all your questions, but it may help. This month's tip concerns paint. A simple subject, but one that still baffles modelers. Paint is manufactured using complex formulas that are constantly being modified and improved. What is paint? Generally speaking, all paint is made up of three components: a pigment, a vehicle, and a solvent. Pigment is the material that gives paint its color. Pigments can be organic or chemical, but pigments have nothing to do with how the paint is classified. A paint vehicle is material that bonds to pigment and remains on the surface once the paint dries. The vehicle is what gives paint its protective properties. A solvent is any liquid that dissolves the vehicle to make paint liquid in the bottle or can. Note that a solvent does not have to be a chemical. Water is a solvent if it dissolves the vehicle in a given paint. How are paints classified? There are only two general classifications of paint: enamels or lacquers. Enamel paint is one that both dries and cures once applied to a surface. As the solvent evaporates, the vehicle undergoes a chemical reaction making it harder and less soluble than the liquid paint. This is why you typically can't remove fully cured enamel with the same solvent as in the original paint. Lacquer only dries it does not cure. The solvent evaporates with no chemical reaction. This is why water- based lacquers can be dissolved with water long after the paint has dried. This is also why applying multiple layers of lacquer can result in the underlying layers dissolving. What about Acrylics? "Acrylic" refers to the vehicle used in paint and not with how the paint reacts once it is applied. The vehicle in acrylic paint is a form of plastic and there are both "acrylic enamels" and "acrylic lacquers". There are also both petroleum-based and water-based solvents for each of these acrylics, depending on the vehicle formulation. For years, modelers, hobby shop owners, and even "experts", have referred to modeling paints as either enamel/ lacquer (meaning that the paint uses a chemical solvent) or acrylic (meaning that water is the solvent). This is just plain wrong and only adds to the confusion. Try adding water to a petroleum-based acrylic enamel and you quickly realize that not all acrylics are water-based. Water-based acrylics should be referred to as "aqueous acrylics". What are the differences in paints? Traditionally, enamels have used a relatively mild petroleum-based solvent with an alkyd vehicle. This combination, while generally safe, takes a long time to cure, sometimes weeks to reach maximum hardness. They are an extremely stable paint and can last for decades without degrading, if properly stored. There are now enamels that dry nearly as fast as lacquers and nearly as hard. Lacquers tend to dry quicker and to a harder consistency than enamels typically in 24 to 48 hours. However, they use harsher solvents to accelerate the drying time. These solvents can attack plastic parts, brush bristles, and brain cells with equal vigor. There are now lacquers available that use much milder solvents (including water) yet maintain their traditional hard finish. With the advent of aqueous acrylics, many of the differences between traditional paints have merged, but aqueous paint has its own problems. Some people think aqueous paint doesn't "stick" to styrene parts like chemical paint. Aqueous paint is more sensitive to humidity and temperature. Modelers who choose aqueous acrylic paint generally do so to avoid exposure to chemicals. So what's the best paint for me? This is the ultimate question and one that each modeler must answer them self. There are distinct advantages and disadvantages between paints and manufacturers. Each modeler must evaluate the good and bad points and make their own choice. It appears as though aqueous acrylic lacquers and petroleum-based acrylic enamels are two types of paint that are becoming the waves of the future. Aqueous acrylic lacquers take the best properties of enamels and lacquers and combine them into a nice package. Although they don't dry as quickly or as hard as "traditional" lacquer, they are getting better. As environmental concerns grow, these paints may be the only option available a few years. Petroleum-based acrylic enamels are modified versions of the same enamels modelers have used since the 1960's. Because they use an acrylic vehicle, these paints dry faster and harder, but they use a slightly harsher solvent than older enamels. I hope that this article clears up the subject of paint (at least a little bit) and helps you decide which paint is right for you. Next month we'll continue with paint and cover some tips and tricks for storing and using paint more effectively.Enjoy your modeling... |
What Are the Different Types of Automotive Paints?
While formulas for manufacturing automotive paint over the last few decades have changed significantly, the individual paint products still remain classified in a few familiar categories. While environmental concerns and worker safety regulations have guided the automotive paint industry away from solvent-based paints into acrylic and waterborne products, automotive paints are typically divided into the following four categories.
Other People Are Reading
Lacquer-Based Paints
- Lacquer-base paints flow well because they are thin bodied and fast drying. Lacquer-based paints and finishes spray on easily and dry to a high-gloss finish. However, because lacquer-base paints are thin body products, they offer little resistance to UV radiation or harsh road chemicals. Therefore lacquer-based paints are typically top coated with clear acrylic urethane to provide long-lasting protection.
Enamel Paints
- Heavier bodied enamel paints are more difficult to apply. If heavy-bodied enamels are applied too thickly, they can pool, run or create an orange-peel effect as they dry. Enamel paints dry more slowly than lacquer-based products and therefore are more likely to pick up imperfections such as dust or lint if the work area does not feature a filtered air supply. Nonetheless, enamel paints ofter superior performance because of their heavier bodied carriers. Enamel paints come in a wide variety of styles including metal flake in pearlescent products that are often used in high-performance and custom car fabrication.
Urethane Paints
- Heavy-body urethane paints are more durable and longer lasting than lacquer based or enamel paints. Heavy-body urethane products are also adapted for high-temperature applications such as engine parts. Urethane paints have two component products. A catalyst is added to the paint to accelerate the drying process. Urethane paints cure chemically as they dry, creating a hard shell finish and wet-look gloss finish.
Waterborne Enamels
- Increasing levels of environmental concerns are the driving factors behind the development of waterborne or water-based acrylics and urethane paints. Waterborne products are more versatile paints. Waterborne paints can be applied to bare metal or over primer or existing coatings. These nontoxic paints are the most favored choice for do-it-yourself car finishers working from a home auto shop. Waterborne paints should be top coated with a waterborne or acrylic clear coat urethane to ensure long-lasting results.
Paint Classification Systems
- Automotive paints can be separated into classifications among a number of unique categories. Another automotive paint classification system separates paints into undercoat, single-stage, base-coat, mid-stage and clear-coat products. This system classifies paints in terms of when they are used in the painting process rather than their composition.
CELL-PHONES & DRIVING
| CELL-PHONES & DRIVING | |
 | |
| WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? | |
| RULE 193A CHANDIGARH MOTOR VEHICLE RULES 1999 | |
| Use of cell-phones No driver of a motor-vehicle shall use or answer the cell phone while driving the vehicle.Rules 21(6)(25) of the central motor vehicles rules 1989 when read with the directions of the Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High Court on the matter, make it amply clear that the said act can be charged under both s.177 (for violation of rule 193a) as well as s.184 (for dangerous driving) of MVA'88.
The matter is further clarified by the clear direction of the Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High Court in the cwp no.7639/95- Nimit Kumar vs Chandigarh Administration and others & cwp no.10591 of 1999 that reads as follows: 'no person while driving a vehicle of any kind including two-wheelers shall use cellular phone…' any person found violating this direction, shall be liable to be proceeded against in accordance with Law under the contempt of Courts act as well as for violation of traffic regulations. | |
CELL-PHONES & DRIVING
| CELL-PHONES & DRIVING | |
| |
| WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? | |
| RULE 193A CHANDIGARH MOTOR VEHICLE RULES 1999 | |
| Use of cell-phones No driver of a motor-vehicle shall use or answer the cell phone while driving the vehicle.Rules 21(6)(25) of the central motor vehicles rules 1989 when read with the directions of the Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High Court on the matter, make it amply clear that the said act can be charged under both s.177 (for violation of rule 193a) as well as s.184 (for dangerous driving) of MVA'88.
The matter is further clarified by the clear direction of the Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High Court in the cwp no.7639/95- Nimit Kumar vs Chandigarh Administration and others & cwp no.10591 of 1999 that reads as follows: 'no person while driving a vehicle of any kind including two-wheelers shall use cellular phone…' any person found violating this direction, shall be liable to be proceeded against in accordance with Law under the contempt of Courts act as well as for violation of traffic regulations. | |
CELL-PHONES & DRIVING
| CELL-PHONES & DRIVING | |
| |
| WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? | |
| RULE 193A CHANDIGARH MOTOR VEHICLE RULES 1999 | |
| Use of cell-phones No driver of a motor-vehicle shall use or answer the cell phone while driving the vehicle.Rules 21(6)(25) of the central motor vehicles rules 1989 when read with the directions of the Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High Court on the matter, make it amply clear that the said act can be charged under both s.177 (for violation of rule 193a) as well as s.184 (for dangerous driving) of MVA'88.
The matter is further clarified by the clear direction of the Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High Court in the cwp no.7639/95- Nimit Kumar vs Chandigarh Administration and others & cwp no.10591 of 1999 that reads as follows: 'no person while driving a vehicle of any kind including two-wheelers shall use cellular phone…' any person found violating this direction, shall be liable to be proceeded against in accordance with Law under the contempt of Courts act as well as for violation of traffic regulations. | |
CELL-PHONES & DRIVING
| CELL-PHONES & DRIVING | |
| |
| WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? | |
| RULE 193A CHANDIGARH MOTOR VEHICLE RULES 1999 | |
| Use of cell-phones No driver of a motor-vehicle shall use or answer the cell phone while driving the vehicle.Rules 21(6)(25) of the central motor vehicles rules 1989 when read with the directions of the Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High Court on the matter, make it amply clear that the said act can be charged under both s.177 (for violation of rule 193a) as well as s.184 (for dangerous driving) of MVA'88.
The matter is further clarified by the clear direction of the Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High Court in the cwp no.7639/95- Nimit Kumar vs Chandigarh Administration and others & cwp no.10591 of 1999 that reads as follows: 'no person while driving a vehicle of any kind including two-wheelers shall use cellular phone…' any person found violating this direction, shall be liable to be proceeded against in accordance with Law under the contempt of Courts act as well as for violation of traffic regulations. | |
THE LAW ON SPEED LIMITS
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