Application and Drying of Automotive Paints

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Painting of cars is a very important step in production, subject to strict quality control and involving multiple steps. Robots are used to manipulate paint atomizers that move along paths optimized to minimize both the volume of paint used and the cycle time. If the spraying process is not done properly the paint layer obtained may be unacceptable, typically because the surface is uneven, the paint does not adhere well, or there are variations in the colour of the paint. Surface defects either arise because of non-uniform paint application or are created by gravitational or capillary forces acting on the paint film after it has been deposited on the surface. Increasingly there are efforts to simulate, using compute models, the paint application process so as to reduce the cost and time of bringing a new automobile to market. The principal objectives of this project are to: 1) Observe atomization of paint in electrostatic rotating bell atomizers. 2) Develop models of paint atomization in bell atomizers, including the effect of electrostatic forces, atomizing gases, and surface grooves on the bell. 3) Determine the effect of paint application parameters that cause orange peel. 4) Study motion of particles in impacting paint droplets and drying paint layers. 5) Develop numerical models of paint drying and orange peel formation.