OEM COLOR
CODE LIBRARY

Environmental Contamination

Also known as:
acid rain, bird droppings, spotting, pitting, acid marks, blistering, insect marks

Description :
Discolored spots in the pigments of the topcoat. Clearcoat losing transparency and/or gloss. Etching marks visible in the topcoat

Origin and Potential Causes:

 · Contamination from agricultural and horticultural sprays. The problem is          seasonal/regional and affected by bird/insect population. The organic             etching is accelerated by intensified heat, such as from sunlight. Time and      temperature dramatically increases concentration of acid. The damage is        more visible on dark or darker colors due to heat absorption.
· Acid rain is the term given to rain containing effluents from manufacturing,     chemical industries and particularly power stations. Some of the effluents       may be acidic or alkaline in the presence of water (e.g. sulphur dioxide will     dissolve in water to give an acidic solution, whilst a mixture of cement dust    and water is strongly alkaline).

Prevention Techniques:
 
· Avoid contaminated atmosphere.
· Frequent washing is the best safeguard against unseen contaminants.
· Maintain and protect the topcoat of the vehicle using a non-silicone               containing polish or wax.
· Immediately clean and neutralize the contamination with mild detergent         and water before etching starts.

Remedy:

· Wash the vehicle very carefully with detergent and water using a brush and    lots of water to neutralize the contamination.
· Rub affected areas with rubbing compound and polish.

· In severe cases, sand the areas needed and be sure the craters are sanded    away completely before using primer and topcoat.

Detailed Image Environmental Contamination

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