TAGS: Environmentally Friendly Coatings Polyurethane Coatings Automotive Coatings
Covestro is using the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2019 to test different materials under the harsh climatic conditions of the track. In the Australian desert, temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius and intense UV radiation prevail in October. A high concentration of dust in the air is also typical for this time of year.
Car Paint with Bio-based Hardener
The climatic conditions have above all an influence on the outer clear coat. The Covestro Sonnenwagen is furnished with a two-layer polyurethane car refinish paint system from PPG. It imparts a smooth, high-gloss surface to the car body and resists the harsh climatic conditions. It is also well protected against scratches.
The highlight here is the coating formulation with the bio-based hardener Desmodur® eco N 7300 from Covestro. 70 percent of its carbon content comes from biomass, which reduces the ecological footprint by around 30 percent.
“Covestro and PPG have been working together in the field of coatings development for many years," says Markus Mechtel, Marketing Manager for Automotive Applications in the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties segment at Covestro.
"With this joint development, both partners want to demonstrate how a coating can also make a contribution to sustainable mobility.” Ignasi Roig, Product Platform Manager Refinish in the EMEA region at PPG, adds: "The biobased hardener meets the sustainability standards of our customers as well as our own. It is a near-drop-in solution where the user does not have to compromise on the quality of the coating.”
Adhesive Endurance Test
A wide range of materials were used to make the new car lightweight, aerodynamic and robust – high-quality plastics as well as composites and metals. The best way to permanently bond such different substrates is by gluing them together. On the trip through the Australian outback, the most important thing is the permanently high quality of the adhesive bond to withstand the high temperatures, the dryness and last but not least the vibrations during the run.
For the Covestro Sonnenwagen, the Aachen team relies on two-component polyurethane adhesives from Sika Automotive, which are based on raw materials from Covestro's Desmodur® and Desmophen® ranges. The products from the SikaForce® product range feature outstanding mechanical strength along with elasticity and stretch ability.
Source: Covestro