Powder Clear Coat -- A Quantum Leap in Automotive Paint Technology 2000-01-1359

BMW - the driving force for progressAs we approach the new millenium, to ensure the continuation of the progress into the future, BMW uses leading edge approaches in its materials research and processing.Overview production sites all over the world - Plant DingolfingQuality requirements for automobile paintingThe complex and wide-ranging demands that the outer skin of an automobile has to meet offered us the chance to advance with a technological leap from liquid clear coat to the potentials of powder clear coat.The new clear coat technologyThe clear coat creates the ultimate gloss effect - and powder-based clear coat makes the surface of the car even more brilliant. To achieve this effect the body is covered by microscopically small paint particles.A pioneer achievementA lot of challenges in both material development and systems-engineering had to be made.The automotive world was watching, many experts said it could not be successfully used as an OEM clear coat.Milestones, process and equipment developmentThe main steps of development from the early beginning up to the full production status.Material specific criteriaAll BMW's quality criteria like adhesion, yellowing, scratch resistance and so on were achieved by an intensive cooperation between our lab staff and the suppliers of the powder clear coat, the water base coat and the primer surfacer.Material test and approval methodsSeveral kind of testing methods are used to proove a high performance powder material.The new paint shop at DingolfingThe realization of the goals of the powder clear coat project brought forth a unique paint shop.Status of powder clear coat and further potentialsThe current status of all properties and criteria of the new technology is precisely shown as well as the potential for new oportunities.