Application Of Electron Microscopy To Automotive Finish Defect Analysis

Abstract

Coatings are applied to appliances, instruments and automobiles for a variety of reasons including corrosion protection and enhancement of market value. Automobile finishes are a highly complex blend of polymeric materials which have a definite impact on the eventual ability of a car to sell. Consumers report that the gloss of the finish is one of the major items they look for in an automobile.With the finish being such an important part of the automobile, there is a zero tolerance for paint defects by auto assembly plant management. Owing to the increased complexity of the paint matrix and its inability to be “forgiving” when foreign materials are introduced into a newly applied finish, the analysis of paint defects has taken on unparalleled importance. Scanning electron microscopy with its attendant x-ray analysis capability is the premier method of examining defects and attempting to identify their root cause.Defects are normally examined by cutting out a coupon sized portion of the autobody and viewing in an SEM at various angles.