According to Nutz and Boltz (America's Consumer Newzletter):

Some mfrs. have adopted a new painting technique for cars. It consists of applying a powder with a base that can take an electric charge. The entire car is then energized and the powder is attracted to the surfaces to be painted. The body is then baked in ovens and the powdered "paint" melts onto the surface. It is fast and low volatility. Wonder of it looks wortha crap.


Maybe this is why Acuras come with a "dead from the factoiy" paint scheme (do not flame - I do not believe Acura uses this).

Anyone know of any cars painted in this manner.

 

Sounds similar to powdercoating to me. I think results can be good as long as the paint is atomized to a fine enough size. "Lumpy" paint particles and stray dust will show up instantly.

This technique can be quite good: the Hubble telescope mirror was coated this way with atomized aluminum.

Wait, the Hubble telescope mirror was crappy... um, never mind

 

Yeah that's exactly what powdercoating is. Sounds like a good idea.

 

I believe the Nissan Skyline is.

 

Certainly sounds like powder coating. It's pretty common out west on sandrail frames, dune buggies and roll cages. It is extremely chip resistant and almost impervious to solvents and brake fluid. I believe it is pretty UV resistant too.

Good stuff. I don't know it had come far enough to do car bodies yet, just frames and such.

I'm not sure about the powder part but electrodeposition of paint has been used for awhile in auto production. BMW uses it in their SC plant. It minimizes overspray (pollution), gets in areas you can't necessarly see head on and applies more evenly.

As far as cars go, I believe the Skyline uses electrodeposition, but not necessarily powder coating.

 

Sounds just like powder coating like others have said. I believe primer has/might have been painted this way... or was it dipped in a tub of zinc under a electric charge? Anyway, this brings up a question to me regarding the possibilities of the coating being more durable compared to conventional paint.

Powder coating produces a very durable finish from what I believe. The question is if this new coating has a look at least equalling a conventional paint job, and offered in many colors. Not just limited to simple colors.

Or will it look like my jr. high shop class mug. w/ brushed on glaze?