DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WATER-BORNE AND SOLVENT-BORNE BASECOATS FOR CAR PAINT
If you think about it, most people do not really worry about the kinds of paint that are used on their cars. They are mainly concerned with the aesthetics of it, such as the glossiness and newness in the color which makes the car beautiful. What a lot of us do not realize is that some paints are harmful to the environment, while others are more eco-friendly. There are 2 main types of basecoats for car paint, solvent-borne and water-borne / low VOC.
Solvent-borne paints contain 85% organic solvents, and 15% pigment, metallic and pearlescent particles. These organic solvents are considered volatile organic carbons (VOC). Since it is volatile, it readily enters the gas phase during application and permeates the environment quickly and easily. VOCs may contain methylene chloride or benzene, both of which have been shown in studies to be carcinogenic in animals and or humans. Environmentally speaking, VOCs can deplete the ozone layer, get into the water supply, pollutes the vegetation and livestock that we consume.
Water-borne basecoats contain 70% distilled water, 10% Organic solvents, and 20% pigment, metallic and pearlescent particles. Although VOCs remain in the mixture, there is a lower concentration in the blend and emission of VOCs into the environment. The high water content in the blend also slows the evaporation rate of solvents down to make the product more eco-friendly. All this helps to keep auto collision repair facilities in compliant with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines.
Every manufacturer has its own recipe of paint blends, but the percentage of ingredients align with the above ratios. VOCs in paint, which has been used and is still being used in some states, are considered to be hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) by the EPA. In 1998 the EPA implemented the National Rule to reduce VOCs by regulating the amount of solvents, and requiring an increase in the amount of solids used in refinish materials. California led the nation in enacting these guidelines, with the Northeast and the Great Lakes region following suit in the U.S.
VOCs AND HEALTH IMPLICATIONS
With good reasons, the EPA’s movement to reduce emissions and exposure to VOCs is to prevent its harmful effects to the environment and humans physically. Overexposure to VOCs and heavy metal compounds may pose the following health issues:
- Chronic effects to the Central Nervous System (CNS) presenting with symptoms of headaches, dizziness, nausea, and memory loss
- Reduction of visual, auditory, and psychomotor capabilities
- Restricted mental development, emphysema, pulmonary edema, and cancer
- At elevated exposure levels, fatality may occur
MISSION VIEJO AUTO COLLISION LED THE PACK IN GOING GREEN IN CALIFORNIA
While water-borne paint is better for the environment, the overhead required in converting to a facility capable of using water-borne products is a concern for most auto collision repair centers. Staff training and appropriate equipment are necessary to go green. The painting department has to be totally converted. Ceiling fans need to be installed to create turbulent air for faster drying, spray guns with corrosion-resistant parts are necessary because the paint is water-based, filters to remove oils / moisture / oil vapors from the spray gun airline and many other pertinent equipment are required to be compliant with the EPA 6H Rule.
Mission Viejo Auto Collision (MVAC) did not hesitate to comply with the EPA and California’s HAP guidelines. It was one of the initial auto body repair facilities which converted to the use of waterborne / low VOC paints to be compliant and more eco-friendly, regardless of the transformation expense. The bottom line for the team at MVAC is the preservation of all living things and the environment overrides the cost of operation. This philosophy from its leaders down to the staff has gained MVAC loyal generations of customers for over 30 years.
So if you have a small dent or any major auto body repair needs in Orange County, visit the professional, certified, environmentally friendly, and experienced team at Mission Viejo Auto Collision. Their work and customer service is guaranteed, with numerous happy clients from Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, Laguna Niguel, Irvine, and other cities throughout the OC.
