Color 1999 an exciting year for paints in the collision shop. Paint manufacturers have introduced a bucketload of new products to make the painter's job more efficient and bring bright smiles to customers' faces.

All of the leading manufacturers are keeping a close eye on the EPA's national volatile organic compound (VOC) requirements and most of the new materials being released are VOC-rated.

Spies-Hecker, Farmingdale, N.Y., will replace its current 8100 clear coat with a paint to be called Permacron MS Clear Coat 8110 this spring. The product is so new that the ink is not dry on the label, but it promises fast dry-through, exceptional gloss retention and good flow at all temperatures and spray environments.

The material meets both the U.S. and the Canadian national VOC rule when mixed 2:1 with MS Hardeners or 3:1 with HS Hardeners.

"8110 is more universal than any clear we have ever tried in the past," says Steffen Apollo, director of technical services for Spies-Hecker. "Through the many options of hardeners and reducers, it has an application window larger than ever seen before."

Looking for a special effect on a street rod or to dress up an otherwise standard paint job? PPG, Strongsville, Ohio, has introduced a new line of "special effect" finishes with names to match: Harlequin, Prizmatique, Luminescence and Flamboyance.

Harlequin is a holographic-like paint which appears to change colors from moment to moment as light bounces off the auto's surface. The effect is caused by a unique "stir-in" pigment which consists of ultra-thin, multi-layer interference film that forms micron-sized flakes. The pigment's color shifts when viewed from different angles or changing light sources. It is available in 12 colors.

Prizmatique is available in 24 basecoat and tricoat formulations including reds, blues, purples, greens, white, black, orange and gold. It also appears to change color.

The Luminescence color looks like a creamsicle. A silica-based non-dusting pigment, it is available in DX62 White and DX63 Orange. When combined as a midcoat with various basecoat colors, it produces a "color travel" effect. There are 15 formulations available.

Flamboyance is another dry powder additive based on actual glass flake particles, refined for refinish use. Available in white, gold, red, violet, blue and green, it should be used as a midcoat application combined with various basecoats.

Sherwin-Williams, Cleveland, Ohio, has a similar line called MultiTones. The particles that make up the basecoat create the effect of color shift by reflecting different wavelengths of light.

MultiTones can be reduced with basecoat stabilizer and applied as one would any basecoat. The line of six factory-packaged masstone colors can also be mixed with Ultra System toners for more variety. Or, MultiTones can be made into a semi-transparent midcoat color when mixed 1:1 with U7109 clear binder and then reduced with basecoat stabilizer.

Previewed at the 1998 International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE), Standox North America, Plymouth, Mich., now offers a seventh color in its Exclusive Line series of limited edition special effects paints.

The new color, Kyalami Flash, travels from a strong purple to deep gold, depending on the strength and angle of the light affecting the pigments in the paint.

"We originally intended to limit the Exclusive Line series to only six colors, but they have been so successful, we decided to continue them indefinitely," said Keith Smith, director of marketing. Kyalami Flash is part of Standox's Medium Solid paint system and coats in three to four spray passes.

All of these paints play games with light and the eye. The result of these brilliant, eye-catching colors is sure to attract customers (and cops).

Primed for Action The latest product from DuPont, Wilmington, Del., lets the shop skip the sealing step. Their new 2K Urethane Primer-Filler is a high-build primer-surfacer for spot, panel and overall applications. It is designed to deliver excellent topcoat holdout.

The 2K Urethane Primer-Filler is available in 1141S White (Value-Shade1), 1144S Medium Gray (VS4) and 1147S Dark Gray (VS7). Combinations of these colors create the other four shades in the ValueShade system.

Increased productivity is possible because the refinisher can sand the primer with a finer grit paper, thus eliminating the need for a sealer. If the refinisher sands 2K Urethane Primer-Filler with P400, followed by a finer paper - say P500 and then P600, instead of stopping with P400 - the sealer is not needed. This feature is also available with DuPont Ultra Productive 2K Primer-Filler, which is offered in 4001S White (ValueShade 1), 4004S Medium Gray (VS4), and 4007S Dark Gray (VS7).

Shops doing high-production collision work will want to check out the P50 high solids primer-surfacer with UH 200 Ultra Hardener from Sherwin-Williams. The mix ratio can be adjusted to produce a normal or Hi-Build option, depending on fill requirements.

In addition, their NP70-3.5 corrosion primer, mixed with the NH700 activator in a straight 2:1 ratio can be applied directly to small bare metal sand-throughs (for larger bare metal areas, an etching primer is recommended). With air or force drying, excellent leveling performance and easy sanding, this product is designed for high productivity.

Meeting the National Rule If you've been using DuPont's 7600S Super Productive ChromaClear and were concerned about losing it because of the National Rule, rest easy. 7600S has been reformulated from a 5.0 to a 4.4 VOC clear, which puts it within National Rule limitations. This allows shops to continue to use 7600S. If you were operating under a 0.4 VOC clearcoat restriction and using V7600S, a shop now can return to its use of the original classic, 7600S. The changeover is virtually seamless.

New 4.4 VOC 7600S continues to use the traditional activator/reducers you're accustomed to: 7655S, 7675S and 7695S. From an application, handling and appearance perspective, you'll find that the new 7600S applies even better, lays out smoother and has better appearance than the old 7600S.

The new 7600S sprays well in prep-deck or downdraft booth environments. Check your paint stock. The new 7600S can be identified by the LE [Low Emissions] graphic just to the right of the DuPont oval.

The new DuPont primer-filler offers smoother texture and improved ease of handling over existing Uro Prime. 2K Urethane Primer-Filler uses the same activator - ll25S - as Uro Prime, but requires the addition of a new converter, 1175S.

The mix ratio of 2K Urethane Primer-Filler is 5:1:1.5, which delivers a 4.8 VOC primer as applied, which is compliant with the National Rule. This is the latest DuPont undercoat to incorporate ValueShade, a technology that enhances topcoat performance. It is based on values of gray which, when used in the undercoat, minimize the amount of topcoat required to achieve full hiding and coverage.

High-Performance Paints Another National VOC Rule-compliant product is the HS Topcoat Accelerator P275-350 from ICI Autocolor, Westlake, Ohio. It is an additive for use in both 2K Single Layer, P420/P421, and HS Clearcoat P190-643 designed to improve the 2K compliant topcoat system.

Combined with either the 2K Single Layer or the HS Clearcoat, Accelerator provides a speedy 10-minute force drying system while maintaining the appearance of the standard HS system.

Because of Accelerator's processing speed, technicians will spend less time painting a car and will be able to complete more repairs each day, increasing profitability.

Valspar Refinish, Picayune, Miss., has its AC-4400, a versatile polyurethane clearcoat. It carries a 4.4 VOC. The material is easy to apply and exhibits high durability in all applications. In collision repair applications, AC-4400 is a stand-out for its shiny gloss and the almost water-like depth of its shine on the vehicle.

BASF Automotive Refinish, Southfield, Mich., will add basecoat/clearcoat capability to its low-priced Limco 1-2-3 three-technology single stage line in 1999. To be called Limco 4, it is National VOC Rule compliant.

Limco 4 will employ the same tinting base set that already is being used for Limco 1-2-3, with a few additions needed to let users match OEM basecoat/clearcoat finishes. These include some new tinting bases that expand metallic capability; BASF's existing Crystal Bases, which provide mica capability; and a new, value-priced clear.

"Those who have enjoyed Limco 1-2-3's cost and performance advantages but were limited to single-stage will be able to add basecoat/clearcoat capability easily and inexpensively, says product manager Tony Dyach. Limco 4 basecoat will be able to match about 20,000 colors that can be mixed from the existing Limco 1-2-3 tinting base set plus the additional bases.

Akzo Nobel introduced its first low VOC products as early as 1990. Since then, all their products have been developed with the ever-changing environmental regulations in mind.

With Colorbuild, part of the Sikkens Simple System for high-build repairs, it is possible to have color, be able to sand, and get all the build you need in one applica tion prior to topcoating. In addition to saving time because of Colorbuild's filling properties, the undercoat matches the topcoat right from the start, fewer topcoats are required to achieve coverage.

For Rule 1151 areas, Standox will be releasing a new 2.1 Clear that works with conventional Standox basecoat systems and meets the most stringent VOC requirements. The company also offers a new 2K HS sealer with a VOC content of less than 2.8 lbs./gallon. "It is a chromate-free product designed to work wet-on-wet for VOC-regulated areas," said Smith. "The response from our customers on the product's performance has been extremely positive, and it is also becoming popular in areas that are not stringently regulated."

Sherwin-Williams' CC-637 Maximum Performance Clearcoat, using the Ultra- Solv Reducers and UH-80 high solids hardener in a 4:1:1 mix ratio, works both in air dry applications and in forced dry situations. With 4.1 VOC, the CC-637 is easily polished to remove dirt or minor imperfections.

Or, check out the CC-369 Super Glamour clearcoat and UH-80 high solids hardener from Sherwin-Williams. Also based on a 4:1:1 mix ratio, it stands out for its fast dry time and excellent buffability. With only two coats, the paint gives a 2.0 mil dry coverage with only two coats and allows use of a single application in properly trained shops.

PPG's DCU 2042 can be polished within minutes after cooling down. According to Ed Zenner, product manager for PPG Automotive Refinish, only five to 10 minutes dry time is needed between coats and 15 to 20 minutes for force drying at 140 degrees. At 4.2 pounds per gallon, 2042 meets all current and proposed VOC regulations and can be applied over Deltron Universal Basecoat, 2000 Basecoat, or Concept Acrylic Urethane.

Looking for better hiding power in a single-stage refinish? BASF's Uno HD, launched in January 1999 provides two-coat hiding power combined with a low VOC content (4 pounds per gallon off the shelf, and a 3.5 pounds per gallon mixing option).

Uno HD's high-density technology provides higher solids with lower solvent content. The increased hiding power results from its high solids concentration. "Even on poor-hiding colors, such as some reds and yellows, Uno HD provides 100 percent hiding in just three coats," Dyach says. Many paints will require four or more coats over difficult colors.

Not only is less material used, but cutting out an extra application means less time in the shop. The performance capabilities and low VOC ratings on these new materials promise to color 1999 as a great year for brightening the profit potential in collision shops.

Curt Harler is a freelance writer based in Strongsville, Ohio.

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