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Plastic Pointers - Issue 18

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Plastic Pointers newsletter is a printed newsletter that is sent to thousands of customers. Some things are "lost" in the translation to HTML web format. To see the Plastic Pointers as it was originally printed, you need to view the Adobe Acrobat version by clicking here.

Paint Adhesion Problems on Replacement Bumpers? Try Bumper & Cladding Coat Adhesion Primer!

It’s been a long time since we’ve put out a Plastic Pointers newsletter, and the reason is that we’ve been working so hard developing our new Bumper & Cladding Coat product line that we haven’t had time for anything else!

Finally, the end to your paint adhesion problems on raw TPO plastic bumpers is here!

Here’s the story... In 2002, we developed the original Bumper & Cladding Coat paint (see more info on Page 2) to refinish the textured plastic bumpers that are so common on the trucks and SUVs nowadays.

First of all, why refinish textured bumpers? Well, the soft TPO is easily marred and scuffed, and the sun attacks it, causing it to fade and develop “tiger stripes.” Many a nice vehicle’s appearance is compromised by chalked, faded, and discolored textured bumpers.

There are two problems with refinishing textured bumpers, however. First, they’re made from TPO, so they’re naturally difficult to get adhesion to. Second, because they’re textured, you really can’t sand them to get better adhesion without damaging the texture.

Our Bumper & Cladding Coat is designed to stick to TPO bumpers right out of the can, with no sanding or scuffing required. It can also be mixed in many different shades of gray to match the appearance of a new OEM bumper.

When we introduced Bumper & Cladding Coat at NACE in Dallas last year, people were more interested in the adhesion quality of the product. They wanted to know if they could spray their base/clear system on top of it.

After NACE, we came back and tested it with all the major topcoat systems--urethane and polyester base-clear systems. We torture tested the paint films by cutting through it with a razor blade, tape testing it, and pressure washing it. We weathered it for months in the cold of winter and in the hot Alabama sunshine.

The results were fantastic. Even without sanding or scuffing on a smooth TPO replacement bumper, in most cases we were not able to get the primer to peel from the bumper nor the basecoat to peel from the primer. Often times we could easily blast the clearcoat off the basecoat, but the basecoat always held tight to the Bumper & Cladding Coat underneath.

Because of its excellent adhesion to TPO and to the overlying topcoat, we’ve taken the Bumper & Cladding formulation and created the new Bumper & Cladding Coat Adhesion Primer.

Available in both light and dark gray colors, the Bumper & Cladding Coat adhesion primer is the easiest way to get your paint to stick to smooth or textured TPO bumpers. Simply clean the bumper first with our P/N 1000 Super Clean alcohol-based plastic cleaner, then shoot the Bumper & Cladding Coat Adhesion Primer on. The paint is ready to spray right out of the can; no reducer or activator required. Let the Adhesion Primer dry, then shoot your topcoat system on, again with no scuffing or sanding required.

Refinish Textured Bumpers with Bumper & Cladding Coat

Bumper & Cladding Coat is the first paint on the market that’s designed expressly for the refinish of molded-in-color, textured TPO bumpers that are so common on today’s cars, trucks, and SUVs. Examples would include the Chevy Avalanche, Dodge Caravan, and base Chevy Cavalier.

Bumper & Cladding Coat has advanced resins that cling tenaciously to TPO without the need for scuffing or sanding. Adhesion is the main selling point for the paint.

Color match is also important, and with the six base toners in the Bumper & Cladding Coat system, you can match virtually any gray-shaded plastic bumper.

We now have 30 shades of gray, including brown and blue shades. With the existing toner system, however, we are not presently able to match colors like forest green or desert tan.

In December, we will be introducing the 3507 Sparkling Silver toner that will allow matching of the new metallic colors like on the PT Cruiser and Jeep Grand Cherokee. Check out www.urethanesupply.com/bcc for the latest color matches.

New Wax Blaster Removes Wax Stains from Textured Plastics

Wax Blaster You’ve spent many hours getting your customer’s car back in pre-accident condition. You’ve polished the freshly applied paint to perfection, and the paint looks better than the day it left the factory.

There’s only one problem...the polishing compound that accidentally got wiped on the textured plastic bumper stands out like a sore thumb! You’ve tried soap and water, and plastic cleaners, but nothing seems to get that stubborn stain out of the texture.

Now with Wax Blaster, this aggravation is a thing of the past. Wax Blaster’s safe and effective water-based solution penetrates deep into the texture and dissolves stubborn wax and compounds that can dull or streak the surface of matte-finish bumpers, cladding, and trim.

Wax Blaster’s safe and effective water-based solvent is applied with a convenient foam-tipped applicator which gently scrubs wax out of deep textures and crevices.
Simply rub Wax Blaster over the offending area, let it sit for a few seconds, then, while it’s still wet, wipe it dry with a clean cloth. The wax is gone forever!
Because it dissolves the wax and doesn’t just cover it up, it works on any color trim.

Finally, Wax Blaster is very economical--only $5.75 per 8 fl. oz. bottle, enough for dozens and dozen of applications. Get Wax Blaster today, and get those irritating wax and compound stains out before you deliver that vehicle!

Metallic Colors Now Possible with Bumper & Cladding Coat!

After nearly a year of research and development, Urethane Supply Company has formulated a Bumper & Cladding Coat paint to match the metallic-colored plastic used on the PT Cruiser and Jeep Grand Cherokee. More and more applications of metallic-embedded TPOs are expected in the coming years.

The challenge was getting the appearance of the aluminum flakes in a 0.5 mil thick paint film to look similar to the flakes that are injection molded into a plastic part that is 2 mm thick. Using commonly available metal flakes, the paint would appear too shiny. Modifications made to the flakes by the metallic vendor gave the right amount of sparkle without causing the paint to look too shiny overall.
There is still a difference in appearance on flop angles, but this is not a problem if the entire part is refinished. In general, we do not recommend blending any of the Bumper & Cladding paints with the original. It is much easier to mask the area and paint overall for the most uniform appearance.

Urethane Supply will be releasing a formulation for the PT Cruiser and Jeep Grand Cherokee Gray Metallic in December in conjunction with the availability of the new 3507 Sparkle Silver toner. Formulations for other metallic applications like the Saturn VUE, 2004 Toyota 4 Runner, and Honda Element are expected to be available in the first quarter of 2004.

OEMs Look Forward to Paint-Free Plants

DaimlerChrysler engineers say that within 10 years they will have the technology to make all-plastic-body cars decorated with paint film applied in the mold. The ionomer-based paint film, developed in partnership with suppliers like ExxonMobil, Solvay, and A. Schulman, can match most existing body colors with the Class A finish and metallic look consumers want.

“Imagine that if there’s a new plant, we put in five or six injection molding machines, we have the film program, and we eliminate a half a billion dollars of investment for the paint plant,” ways Nippani Rao, senior specialist in exterior plastics for DaimlerChrysler.

The process is currently in production on the 2002-current Dodge Neon. Both its front and rear fascias are manufactured using a four-layer extruded film which is thermoformed to match the shape of the bumper. The thermoformed blanks are then robotically trimmed and positioned in an injection molding machine for the addition of a PP copolymer substrate (ExxonMobil PP8074). The finished fascia comes out of the mold with no additional processing necessary.

Separately, Ube Machinery demonstrated its new Imprest in-mold painting system at the 2003 NPE show in Chicago. In a system developed with Sherwin Williams, the system first injects the substrate and molds the part, then the tool opens slightly to allow injection of the paint from a delivery system built into the mold. The tool closes again, distributing the paint evenly over the substrate. The paint cures inside the mold to a thickness of 40 to 70 microns. The paint is 100% solids, so there are no VOCs. The paint is formulated to release easily from the mold.

- from articles in Plastics Technology, Plastics News, and Automotive Engineering International magazines.

Products featured in this issue