Bumper Color

T e c h t a l k

PPG helps answer

your customer’s concern as
to why the factory original
color doesn’t always match
the rest of the vehicle.

I
f your collision repair shop is typical of most, you’ve probably run into
the situation more than once where the customer complains that the Other causes of
color of their bumper doesn’t match the rest of the vehicle—or you have bumper color mismatch
to explain why blending may be required in order to create an invisible repair
Not all bumper-to-body color The second major cause lies in the
that’ll match even better than the factory original. mismatches can be blamed on the thermal conductivity of the substrates.
factory and the many variables involved in If you have sprayed solvent onto a metal
Trying to conjure up a simple Becoming familiar with these PPG’s “Facts on Bumper Color” applying OEM finishes. There are panel on a warm day, you may have
explanation to the customer’s reasons can go a long way in resolving campaign is proving to be a very occasions when the body and the noticed how the panel cools down
satisfaction isn’t an easy proposition. bumper color issues. Even better, effective customer satisfaction tool in bumper are painted at the same time, significantly as the solvent evaporates.
To overcome the customer’s PPG has created “Facts on Bumper shops where it’s being utilized. with the same paint, yet the colors turn out The solvent is pulling the heat out of the
objections, it’s essential to have a good Color”, a very informative campaign “These materials are a great thing to differently. The causes are related to panel as it evaporates and as a result,
grasp of the underlying causes of why to help educate customers on the four have,” relays William Parkins, owner some fundamental differences in the speeds up the drying process. This
OEM bumpers often don’t match basic causes of bumper mismatch. of Metro Auto Rebuild of Seattle, properties of the two substrates. doesn’t occur as much with plastic since
the rest of the vehicle. Basically, Available through your local PPG WA. “By simply showing our First, unless specially treated, plastics it is a good insulator. As a result, the same
there are four common reasons for distributor, the educational materials customers the facts about OEM are good electrical insulators, so they can paint may evaporate at a different rate
an OEM bumper mismatch. are available in three formats: mismatches, it saves my employees build up a static charge when wiped on plastic than metal. This increase
18”x24” Poster, part number WAL the time it takes to explain the down during surface preparation. If the in the evaporation time gives metallic
1. A color can vary depending on
42; 9”x12” Counter Display, part problem. An estimator can point out static is not discharged, it can migrate flakes longer to “float” in the film which
the substrate on which it is painted.
For example, the evaporation rate for number OTH 42; 2-sided Pamphlet, to the customer why the bumper into the paint film. If the color contains a can darken the “face” slightly. This
solvent varies over metal or plastic. part number PAM 42. color is like that to begin with, but metallic, the charge can force the metallic can be compensated for using the
A longer rate gives a flake pigment these materials offer documentation flakes apart and change their alignment. techniques discussed in an earlier

Facts on
additional time to “float” and can to back it up.” The result is a shift in the color or Repaint Reporter article entitled
darken the “face” of the color. Facts on darkening on the “face”. The best way to “Vanishing Act” (Vol. 65, No. 1).

Bumper Bumper
Color
of th Wh
e bu y the
mper fa
an ctor
tackle this problem is to make sure any To view past issues of the Repaint

Color
2. The body was painted on a
the d trim y origina
rest pie
of th ces l color
e ve may
of th W hicle. not

e bu hy the
matc

static charge is removed with an anti- Reporter, please visit www.ppgrefinish.

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production line at the factory, while ra or
the nd trim y origin
rest a
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of th ieces l color
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other parts, such as the bumper and hicle not

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 Facts on Bumper Color Why the factory original color
of the bumper and trim pieces may not match
the rest of the vehicle.

Have you looked at

your vehicle’s bumper
lately? Even if you own
a new car, there’s a
good chance the
bumper and accent
colors may vary from
the body color.

Causes of
Color Variations

1 A color can vary depending

on the substrate on which it
is painted. For example, the
evaporation rate for solvent
varies over metal or plastic.
A longer rate gives a flake
pigment additional time to
“float” and can darken the
face of the color.

2 The body was painted on a

production line at the factory,
while other parts, such as the
bumper and trim, were painted
at another location using a
different application method.

3 Slight adjustments can be

made during application
creating a lighter or darker
color, or causing the metallics
or mica elements to lay down
differently.

4 Light reflects differently on

curved and flat surfaces causing
the appearance of a color shift.

We use the best in color-matching tools to precisely match factory standards

World Leaders In Automotive Finishes

©2006 PPG Industries. All Rights Reserved. www.ppgrefinish.com Part No. WAL 42, 1/06