What is metallic paint and why automakers charge extra for it
Probably, many have seen in the ads for the sale of cars information that the car is painted in metallic paint. And the price for a car may be slightly higher than for the same one, but in ordinary paint. Or in the price lists of car dealers you can often find the text that there is a surcharge for metallic.
Previously believed that this refers to the silver color of the paint. But it turned out that metallic can be found in many colors. So how does it differ from ordinary car enamel and why do they ask for a surcharge for it?
Typical automotive enamel consists of a pigment (responsible for color), a binder (polymer) and a solvent. And aluminum powder is added to the metallic paint. In this case, the surface begins to play in the sun like mother-of-pearl. And it doesn't matter if it's red, black, blue or otherwise.
If you look closely, you can see many microscopic particles reflecting light in the structure of the paint on the body. They give a metallic shine in the sun. Hence the name.
In addition to a purely visual effect, metallic paint heats up less in the sun (due to its higher reflectivity), fades to a lesser extent over time, and the body is less subject to corrosion. And it is possible that the thickness of the paintwork layer is determined worse by the thickness gauges. But it is not exactly.
Who has a car in metallic color - how does the thickness gauge react to paintwork thickness? Write in the comments.
But the paint itself is more expensive and the body painting is also more expensive - either at a factory or in a car service workshop. Metallic paint should be applied in a very even layer and in several layers. Otherwise there will be spots. For these reasons, the cost for a color with metallic is higher by car dealers. 25-30 thous. rub.
Metallic paint is used not only for cars, but also for bicycle frames. Earlier in Kharkov, during the Soviet era, bicycles with this shade were produced.
Many have seen cars in the color "chameleon" or "white mother-of-pearl":
This is also metallic paint, but the body is painted in three layers. And many eminent brands paint their premium segment in three layers. Some expensive cars from the factory have thick paintwork. Without knowing this, it can be confused for a completely repainted car during repairs.
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