The On-Line Coating of Plastic Body Components—A Dream or Reality?

The coating of body components in the automobile industry is carried out preferentially on the main paint line, thereby avoiding additional coating costs and color shade differences. Unfortunately, very few plastics exist which do not deform by temperatures of 140 - 170 °C. In addition, the normal body paints are too hard and brittle for most plastics. The impact resistance, particularly at low temperatures, can de crease to as little as 5 % of the original value when too hard a paint system is used.

The presentation indicates possibilities for the on-line coating of plastics components by means of modifications to the present painting methods and materials.