What are the three basic types of automotive paints?

Basecoat paint falls into three color categories: solids, metallic and pearlescent. Solid basecoats are the most common type of auto paint. They can be found on most cars throughout the world. Metallic basecoats are less common than solids but can be found on many sports cars and custom painted vehicles.

What kind of paint do car manufacturers use?

Modern car paints are nearly always an acrylic polyurethane “enamel” with a pigmented basecoat and a clear topcoat. It may be described as “acrylic”, “acrylic enamel”, “urethane”, etc. and the clearcoat in particular may be described as a lacquer.

What is the most expensive automotive paint?

The most expensive car paint costs $2,000 a gallon. It’s developed by Lexus and replicates the beautiful and vivid blue of the American Morpho butterfly. Except, it isn’t actually blue as the American Morpho butterfly’s wings have no blue pigment in them at all.

What are the 4 main layers of automotive paint?

A typical automotive coating system consists of four layers as shown in Fig. 1, namely the e-coat, the primer or filler, the basecoat and the clearcoat, and the latter two-layers are combined into the topcoat.

What are two types of automotive paint finishes?

Different Types of Car Paint; What you Need to Know

  • Primer. With a prep or undercoat finish — a.k.a. the primer — expect shades of grey or black.
  • Base Coat. Base coat paints are just like the name implies — basic.
  • Clear Coat.
  • Acrylic Lacquer.
  • Specialty.

What is the toughest type of paint?

The hardest paint that is available to most homeowners is an epoxy modified alkyd paint. These are most commonly found in aerosol spray cans. After these paints cure, they typically have a harder finish than you could obtain with an oil or water based paint that is brushed on.

What are some high-quality car paint brands?

Best Car Paint Performix Plasti Dip Black Car Paint. First on our list of the best automotive paints is this Plasti Dip Rubber Coating from Performix. Rust-Oleum Gray Primer Car Paint. Coming in at a close second on our collection of the best automotive paint is this option from Rust-Oleum. VHT Clear Exact-Match Automotive Top Coat.

What kind of auto body paint is the best?

Urethane paint is the most durable auto paint, and is also chip-resistant—when properly maintained, a coat of urethane paint will outlast most acrylic paints. In terms of application, urethane paints are easier to apply. Using a pressurized spray can, they provide better coverage than acrylic paints.

What is the best automotive paint system?

The Rust-Oleum Autobody Paint is the best automotive paint if you are looking for a professional grade all-purpose car paint. The Rust-Oleum Auto Body is an acrylic based formula that is meant for full body paint jobs. It can also be incorporated into a spray system for easy touch ups and spot repairs.

What is the cheapest car paint?

Acrylic Lacquer Auto Paint. Acrylic lacquer auto paint, on the other hand, is probably the cheapest type of auto paint available on the market today. This type of paint is suitable for inexperienced car painters since it can easily be applied. However, lacquer is often considered a soft paint so it chips easily.