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Eco-friendly paints for your car

Wednesday 01 March 2017

As people become more environmentally conscious, manufacturers are starting to come up with new and inventive ways to make car paints more eco-friendly. Water-based paints are a fantastic automotive product as they contain less harmful solvents and more water, without impacting the overall quality or staying power of your paint job.

What are water-based car paints?

Much like traditional solvent-based paints, water-based car paints contain a binder for its film, and pigments that will develop the paint’s colour. Each type of paint has an acrylic binder built into its chemical composition, which makes the paint suitable for exterior use. In water-based paints, this component gives the paint the strength it needs to withstand harsh outdoor conditions. The type of pigment used also ensures you can still choose from a range of colours that are light-fast, just like their traditional counterparts. The main difference between water-based and solvent-based paints is the carrying agent. A carrying agent determines how a binder and pigment gets transferred from the spray gun to the vehicle. Traditional, urethane paints use solvents that can cause a host of health-related problems, while continual use will let volatile pollutants into the air. Water-based paints, as the name suggests, use water, which means the paint emits up to 80% less harmful pollutants than other forms of car paint.

Why are water-based car paints a safer alternative to traditional car paint?

Waterborne automotive paint technology is a fantastic development that has been gaining popularity over the past ten years. Water-based paints won’t sacrifice the paint’s quality, but will significantly reduce its harmful effects on the environment. Unfortunately, water-based paints don’t dry as fast as solvent-based paints, but this is a small price to pay to eliminate toxins that have been linked to asthma, brain deterioration and even holes in the ozone layer. To tackle the slow drying times, water-based car paints often use mild co-solvent additives and reducers, which will increase drying times, while still lowering the volume of air pollution being emitted. You can also rest assured that your water-based paint is compatible with traditional, solvent-based varieties, so when combined, they can create a beautiful, high-quality finish that is more eco-friendly, but just as aesthetically pleasing. For more information on the eco-friendly, water-based car paints that will make painting your car a more environmentally conscious process, contact the team at Body Shop Paint Supplies today! As Melbourne’s leading car paint supply store, they’re a one-stop-shop for all of your needs.