What is the general thickness of automotive paint film?
2 Answers
Paint thickness varies depending on the vehicle model, color, and specific area, typically ranging between 120 to 180 microns, with a Mohs hardness of only 0.4-0.6. The thickness slightly differs for the roof, door panels, and front hood. Below is an introduction to automotive paint: 1. Automotive paint refers to the coating applied to vehicles, which is a type of paint. Applying paint to a car not only forms a protective film on the surface, making the body less prone to corrosion and extending the vehicle's lifespan, but also provides an aesthetic appeal. Different automotive paints produce different effects, and choosing different types and colors can showcase the unique personality of the car. Therefore, automotive paint is crucial to the vehicle itself. 2. Automotive paint must not only ensure the paint film has excellent mechanical properties, good fullness, and high gloss but also provide strong adhesion, high hardness, and scratch resistance. Additionally, it must possess outstanding weather resistance, scratch and abrasion resistance, gloss durability, and excellent resistance to gasoline, alcohol, acids, alkalis, and salt spray, among other properties.
I've been into cars for many years and have used a paint thickness gauge to measure the paint layers on my vehicles. Mainstream new cars generally range between 100 to 150 microns. For example, my old Toyota averages around 130 microns, but the door edges are only about 80 microns, while the hood might be 160 microns. Different parts of the car body have varying thicknesses due to differences in painting processes, with doors tending to be thinner. Thicker paint provides better rust resistance, protecting the car body from corrosion; if it's too thin, it's more prone to scratches from stones or bubbling. I recommend avoiding rough cloths when cleaning the car, being gentle during washes, and regularly waxing to extend the paint's lifespan. If a used car's paint thickness exceeds 200 microns, be cautious—it might have been repainted and not have the original factory paint, which could affect the vehicle's long-term value. Personally, I check the paint thickness every six months to ensure it stays as it was.
