Title: Water-base paint technology

Authors: K. Jahrling

Addresses: General Motors Europe, Technical Development Centre, West Germany

Abstract: This article looks at water-borne paints - their current technology, process comparison, production experience and future development. It deals with the GME paint process, the introduction of water-borne primer at Opel in 1981 and its GME wide application and production experience in four paint shops. The development of paint spray and processing technology for water-borne base coat introduced in 1987 at the Bochum paint shop is covered and practical experience with over 100,000 painted bodies is reported. An evaluation of water-borne paints versus paint booth exhaust air cleaning is made with respect to available technology, emission rates, and cost implications. Future development in German automotive manufacturing is discussed based on the German Clean Air Act limits which come into effect in March 1991.

Keywords: air pollution; atomisers; German Clean Air Act; electrostatic paint; solvents; unicolours; water-base paint; water-borne paint; Germany; automotive manufacturing; automobile industry; vehicle design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1990.061598

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1990 Vol.11 No.6, pp.548 - 552

Published online: 26 May 2014 *

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