The role of basecoat pigmentation on the biological resistance of an automotive clearcoat

This work aims to study the effect of various natural and artificial biological compounds on an automotive acrylic/melamine clearcoat applied over silver and black basecoats containing pigments. The visual performance of the coating system was evaluated at different aging conditions. To this end, analytical techniques including optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, gonio-spectrophotometery, gloss measurement, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, and DMTA analysis were utilized to investigate the optical and mechanical response of the system upon exposure to the biological materials. Results indicated different effects produced by gums and bird droppings on both silver and black systems at all aging processes. In addition, a more severe effect of biological attacks was observed on the clearcoat samples applied on the black basecoat which had experienced postaging conditions. However, it was found that pancreatin and bird droppings influence the coating systems more severely compared to the natural and synthetic Arabic gums.