Car paintwork becomes sustainable and looks good

The automotive painting industry is undergoing a massive upheaval. In particular, the trend towards greater sustainability is prompting everyone involved to pursue new approaches. Wet-on-wet painting, bio-based paints and modern drying concepts are improving the CO2 balance. There is no need to compromise on special colours, wet looks or decorative elements.

Dr Lars Friedrich, Head of the Application Technology Division at Dürr Systems AG, observes that more importance is generally attached to the appearance of electric vehicles. More layers of paint and more special colours are being used, as well as contrasting paintwork for surfaces and design elements. With two or three clear coats, one of which is tinted, attractive colour effects such as a wet look can be created. Two- or three-tone paintwork or decorative elements on vehicles are also becoming increasingly common. However, sustainability is just as important for the paintwork as it is for the drive system.

Chemical companies such as BASF now offer almost all products with a biomass balance. At the end of 2023, Akzo Nobel presented a bio-based interior coating made from rapeseed and another made from pine resin for Kia Motors. Another important approach to greater sustainability is energy consumption. Fewer ovens and dryers are used. The number of drying processes is reduced. Another approach to reducing electricity and water consumption is the use of rotation systems for cathodic dip painting. The car body is rotated 360 degrees in the dip tank, which makes the paint layer more even. Further energy savings are achieved by applying the base coat "wet on wet" to the pre-zone paint. Daimler, BMW and Audi are pursuing exciting approaches to make automotive painting more sustainable without compromising on design.