New High-Tech Car Paints You Won’t Believe

Ever wish you never needed to wash your car again?  As ridiculous as it may seem…someday in the not too distant future, you may be able to drive through a pothole mud puddle or your car may be strafed by a flock of Canadian Geese…yet your vehicle remains pristinely clean…all because of it’s high-tech paint job.

Paint that helps a car clean itself is just one of the many innovations happening in this arena. Driven by technological breakthroughs and increased concern for the environment, manufacturers are producing innovative new car coatings that last longer, keep the environment safer and look cooler.

and an expert in color, material and finish design, believes that car paint has advanced to the point where it’s basically colorful tech.

“Exterior paint is evolving into almost ‘smart paint…” Kirsten Keenan – Design Director, Trichromatic Studio

The bottom line will be to make driving even more fun while saving time and making a positive environmental impact.

Here are a few practical innovations coming in the world of auto paint finishes:

Scratch-Eliminating Car Paint –Coatings derived from chitin, a material found in crab shells that react to the sun’s ultraviolet light and stitch themselves back together when scratched, leaving no sign of the original damage.  Status: Still in development.

Beat-the-Heat Car Paint –heat-reflecting paint, which mixes traditional paint materials with potassium silicate, causing the paint to bounce UV rays off rather than absorbing them. This will give you relief from the heat even when the air-conditioning is off, says Keenan, which will help save money on gas.  Status: Available now – some markets.

Self-Cleaning Car Paint – Maybe “soil resistant” is a more accurate name since it aims to prevent your car from getting dirty in the first place.  This specialized car paint features a layer of microscopic “peaks” that make it very hard for water or dirt to cling to the surface. Aka “superhydrophobic” paint because it repels moisture just like the coating on a nonstick skillet. Status: Concept car trial runs in 2014, but still a few years away for production vehicles.

Environment-Friendly Car Paint – Waterborne paints have already been replacing solvent-based paints for several years.  Appealing to environment-conscious consumers…they have fewer toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Used to paint wheels & rims for years now…Powder Coatings are an enviro-friendly & affordable method that uses free-flowing powder instead of traditional paint. Status: Available now.

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