[Shama]

Hi all,


I wonder if there is any difference between water based painting and solvent based painting on paint correction, gloss and reflectivity.

I heard that it is more difficult to compound and polish the water based painting than the solvent based painting.
Is it true? If then why?

Which one is harder ?
Does water based or solvent based have any influence on the paint hardness ?


I hope someone answers my questions..


Have a nice day~

[Nica]

Interesting question, I know that the new technology and the way all paint shops are going is water based...but I don't think I've polished a water based vehicle...then again I may have and didn't notice

Interesting question though look forward to feed back on this topic as well.

[togwt]

Great question Shama (as there is some interest here as well as on the DU forum I thought I'd re-post my response)

Water-Based Paint Finishes:
In the past twenty years, environmental and occupational safety concerns have put great pressure on the oil-based coatings industry. Many industries (including newspaper inks mfg) have seen the migration of coatings toward water-based formulations. These changes moved approximately 20% world's automotive industry to water borne coating by 1999, since this change there has been a lot of talk about the durability of these automotive paints. (See also Paint Systems)

However, water borne paints have some drawbacks:•First-Water borne paints are softer than acrylic oil based paints. The quick forced dry process using higher curing temperatures causes the paint to dry fast, but not as hard. As a result, these paints scratch more easily.

•Second- Water borne paints also have difficulties with increased orange peal and production line runs and sags. The increased orange peal causes a reduction in overall smoothness and gloss.

•Third- Water borne paints are also more porous than conventional acrylic finishes. This accelerates a process known as drift; it is the process of waxes and sealants soaking into the pores of the finish.

Because the finish of a water-based paint is porous, when magnified it looks similar to the surface of the moon, peaks and valleys etc., as sealants heat and cool, they soak into the finish. Drift occurs in every known finish, however the water borne paint allows this process to occur much more rapidly, in some cases, even as short as a two week period of time. As drift occurs, the paint is left susceptible to the outdoor elements.

This leads the paint to loose gloss and be susceptible to water spots, acid rain, industrial fallout and many other forms of foreign particles.

Maintenance -water borne finishes aren't dramatically different than caring for a conventional paint finish, as with most paint systems the base colour coat is protected with a water-based polyethylene clear coat

Q1.I heard that it is more difficult to compound and polish the water based painting than the solvent based painting.
Is it true? No (see above)
If then why? N/A

Q2. Which one is harder ?
Solvent-based paint

Q3. Does water based or solvent based have any influence on the paint hardness ?
Yes

[Shama]

Thank you again, Toqwt!!