ENGINEERED PAINT BOOTHS & FINISHING SOLUTIONS
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Water Spotting

I am an automotive paint formulator in the Middle East. Two weeks ago, our weather was rainy and we saw water spot defects on the horizontal surfaces of test specimens on our outdoor exposure racks. This was after the top coat curing step. We believed them to be fully cured. We’ve studied this problem quite a bit but have not yet found a cause.

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Q. I am an automotive paint formulator in the Middle East. Two weeks ago, our weather was rainy and we saw water spot defects on the horizontal surfaces of test specimens on our outdoor exposure racks. This was after the top coat curing step. We believed them to be fully cured.

We’ve studied this problem quite a bit but have not yet found a cause. Please help me solve this problem. M.A.

 

A. As you are aware, fully cured automotive topcoats should not water spot after a rain event. Therefore the solution to your problem is simple. Either your top coat formulation is not automotive grade, or it was not fully cured when exposed.
 

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