Why isn't car paint afraid of gasoline?
2 Answers
Car paint is actually afraid of gasoline. The car body is essentially coated with paint, and the main chemical components of paint are very similar to those of gasoline. Due to the "like dissolves like" principle, paint can largely dissolve in gasoline. Therefore, the car body is vulnerable to gasoline. Generally, car paint is resistant to water—otherwise, cars couldn't be driven in the rain. However, prolonged exposure to wind and sunlight can also damage the paint, which is why cars left outside for extended periods often need protective covers. Below is a relevant introduction: Composition of car paint: Automotive paint mainly consists of resins, pigments, additives, fillers, curing agents, and solvents. Metallic car paint includes added glitter particles (aluminum powder), while pearlescent paint contains mica particles. Performance of car paint: Unlike other paints, automotive paint must endure the challenges of all seasons, requiring extremely high performance. It must possess excellent weather resistance, scratch and wear resistance, gloss retention, and resistance to gasoline, alcohol, acids, alkalis, and salt spray. However, gasoline is an organic solvent capable of dissolving organic substances.
It's quite interesting that car paint isn't afraid of gasoline. The outermost clear coat of the paint is like putting a high-quality raincoat on the car—it's extremely dense. Ordinary gasoline splashed on it just slides off like water droplets on a lotus leaf, unable to penetrate at all. Moreover, modern car paints undergo high-temperature baking before leaving the factory, making the surface as hard and sturdy as porcelain. Last time when the fuel nozzle leaked and sprayed gasoline onto my car's hood, I quickly wiped it off with a wet cloth, and the paint showed no marks at all. However, it's important to remind everyone that paint thinners and brake fluid are real paint killers—if they splash on and aren't dealt with immediately, they can leave permanent scars.
