New chemical plastic film that could replace paints in the auto industry. Interesting read. http://www.business2.com/articles/mag/0,1640,46142,00.html - Freed
I've worked in plastics for a long time. I still have concerns about the long-term durability of plastic panels (like the saturn etc) - just about every type of plastic will get more brittle and stiff as time goes on, and loses other properties as well. There are things that can be done to reduce this aging effect, but I don't know how much effort they made in making them last 20 years or more (like our Buicks). Anyhow, it looks like it has some potential, we'll have to wait and see. Unfortunately we may not know until 15 years after it is introduced... -Bob Cunningham bobc@gnttype.org
I see it like this... If I could coat the metal of my car so it would never, ever, ever rust, corrode, chip, peel, sag, fade or deteriorate through normal use with normal maintenance, I would pay for it. I would be willing to pay a lot for it. I'd be willing to pay even more for it if that coating were maintenance-free. I know from experience that a properly cared for paint job can look good for a very long time (my dad's 65 Vette was restored in 1980, and it still looks amazing), but that proper care involves almost never driving the car.o No: Even if I had to powdercoat the body panels, I would be willing to if it could keep things looking great forever. Agreed, we'll see how good it really is in 20 years. - Freed
