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Home >> Smart >> 2017 >> Fortwo Electric Drive, 2D Convertible >> Repair and Diagnosis (Single Page) >> Collision >> Paint & Coatings >> Paintwork - 453 Chassis >> General Information >> Damage And Stress Caused To Paintwork By External Influences - Ah98.00-P-8070-02SM

Damage And Stress Caused To Paintwork By External Influences - Ah98.00-P-8070-02SM

MODEL 450, 451, 452, 453, 454 

Stresses on paintwork 

Structure of a one-coat finish 

G12097321Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ USA

Structure of a two-coat finish 

G12097322Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ USA

In addition to the effects caused by chemical or biological substances such as sulfurous acid (acid rain), oil soot, road salt, surfactants, tree resin, insects, bird droppings and mechanical damage caused by washing brushes and stone chipping, damage can also be caused by moisture and UV radiation from the sun.

These last causes particularly endanger pigmented standard finishes. The fine plastic film of synthetic resin surrounding and protecting the coloring pigment particles is destroyed in the course of time by the effect of UV radiation exposing the coloring pigment. This makes the paint surface dull.

Polishing even new vehicles with products containing abrasive agents works to degrade the pigment protecting synthetic layer and the pigment weathering process will begin even earlier.

The degree of damage depends on the intensity and duration of the UV radiation which cannot be avoided even with the best paints.

For this reason, careful care of the paint repeated at proper intervals as well as technical maintenance helps preserve the value of the vehicle. With good paint care, the beauty of the new paintwork can be maintained significantly longer.