WHAT IS PAINT OXIDATION?
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Oxidation is a perpetual process involving paint deterioration. It
is an ongoing phenomenon which affects every type of paint finish for both
clear coat and traditional paints alike. Oxidation occurs when heat
and oxygen combine to break down the molecular structure of paint.
This problem is evidenced by the appearance of the paint looking dull,
hazy or chalky. Traditional automotive paint has a basic oil content
in it. Evaporation of oil in paint occurs over a gradual period of
time from overexposure to ultraviolet light. Then, sunlight and heat help accelerate
the drying of the painted surface. This problem is recognized as
a whitish chalky residue on the surface. Once the painted suface
has lost all of its oil content the finish is beyond any hope of
repair unless it undergoes aggressive compounding and renourishment of
valuable conditioning oils.
Clear coat paint finishes help slow down the degradation process, but they are not immune to oxidation themselves. Underneath the thick clearcoat layer of clear urethane (simply called "the clear" in the trade), a hard plastic type of coating, is a thin and delicate layer of base coat paint. Over a period of time constant bombardment of ultraviolet light will dull the underlying paint. The clear coat itself, although an extremely hard material, is also exposed to oxygen, sunlight, acid rain, humidity and smog. Over a period of time the sensitive clear coat becomes thin and weak and can break apart into snowflake like patches, eventually turning into a whitish covering on the surface of the car. CAN OXIDATION BE CURED? To better understand how paint reacts - think of paint as a sort of sponge. A wet sponge is full of moisture and the fibers are soft and resilient. |
Once the sponge loses
its moisture the fibers turn stiff and dry. The same holds true in
a paint finish, once the pores lose their oil content the surface becomes
dry and chalky, and the paint loses its ability to be resilient.
One would almost think that paint is like a living organism that breathes.
An automobile that has just been freshly painted goes through a different
process of steps known as a curing process. This is the time that
the paint hardens and sets its permanent color. The curing period
of fresh paint varies from a couple of days to a few weeks.
During the curing process oxygen in the air combines with the hardener
or catalyst in the paint to form a new shield of protection. Although
paint itself does not actually breathe, if a sealer or coat of wax is placed
over the fresh paint before the paint has had time to set and cure, you
can in effect, suffocate the paint by preventing the necessary oxygenation
to combine with the paint hardeners and catalyst. The result will
look very similar to a paint finish that has undergone a good degree of
oxidation, and the paint will look dull and hazy in just a few short months.
Once the paint has had ample time to cure, the best method of paint protection against naturally occurring oxidation is to place a protective sealant on the automobile's painted surface. To promote paint life, a regular maintenance and resealing of the surface on an ongoing basis should be done. With proper care and maintenance a good paint job will last for years to come! THE END |