Metal flake paint
A metal flake paint is a paint in which a metallic luster particles ( effect pigments ) in the paint are mixed, but these are much larger and stronger than conventional brilliance include metallic paint . It is mainly used in the surface design of cars and motorcycles, but also on musical instruments or as fingernail polish .
history
The embedding of metal plates in layers of lacquer was practiced in the 19th century by artists in Japan who used gold and silver plates (flakes) for this. The technique is known as Hirameji .
Processing technology
A metal flake painting is to be assessed as a design painting compared to the normal painting methods, mostly for vehicles such as cars and motorcycles. Compared to lacquering in RAL colors , i.e. lacquers to which an identification code ( RAL number ) has been assigned in order to reproduce them exactly on special mixing systems, the process of metal flake lacquering is more complicated. The preparatory work includes cleaning and roughening, if necessary putty and fillers as well as priming.
For standard paintwork, the basecoat 1K, plain or metallic, is applied and then sealed with clearcoat. This gives the paint finish the necessary durability and brilliance. There is also the option of painting with a 2K paint; no clear lacquer is required here.
Metal flake paintwork differs from a standard paintwork apart from the preparatory work and the basecoat. Almost comparable to a metallic paintwork, shiny metallic particles are mixed into the paintwork. However, these are much larger and have a greater brilliance. While metallic is still in the micrometer range, so-called "metal flakes" are given sizes in millimeters. Most often, however, this information is declared as micro-flakes (mini flakes), S (small), M (medium), L (large) and big flakes. Depending on your requirements, the size of the individual effect particles can be determined as well as the density in the paint finish. This is achieved through the amount and distribution in the paint.
There are no data sheets or instructions on how to apply the flakes. Often the flakes are mixed into the clear coat, applied with a spray gun and a coarse nozzle. The effect is there, but only marginally exploited. Others sprinkle the flakes on the freshly painted and not yet dried paint surface. The result is rather uneven and difficult to coordinate; especially with parts that are not even, but, for example, round. With larger quantities and larger flakes, the number of clearcoat layers increases. Intermediate sanding of the individual paint layers may be necessary here.
Flakes are available in many different colors, as well as ready-made color mixtures. In terms of color, different effects can also be achieved by choosing the color of the basecoat.
application
Full-surface "metal flake coatings" are mostly used in the automotive sector. Small flakes are used because large areas increase the effort and cost of large flakes. Large flakes are mostly used on smaller parts like motorcycle tanks and fairings.
Variations such as the use of "candy paints" and the airbrush process are possible. Candy paints are transparent, colored glaze paints that tint the surface in color. Individual areas are masked and shaded and / or provided with various patterns such as fish scales, ornaments or cube patterns. In addition, hand lines ( pinstripes ) and hand-painted fonts ( lettering ) can be incorporated into the pattern.
In addition to paintwork for motor vehicles, musical instruments, fingernails and everyday objects are also provided with metal flake paintwork. Artists like John Chamberlain also occasionally cover their sculptures with such varnishes.
literature
- Peter Wissling: Metallic Effect Pigments: Fundamentals and Applications . Vincentz Network GmbH & Co KG, 2006, pages 193 ff, ISBN 9783878701712
Individual evidence
- ^ Encyclopedia Britannica, 1992, volume 5, p. 942, entry: Hirameji .
- ↑ Andrew Pekarik, Japanese Lacquer, 1600-1900 , Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1980, 137, ISBN 9780870992476 .
- ^ John Chamberlain: Choices' at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum AO Artobserved .
- ↑ De Wain Valentine, Triple Disk Red Metal Flake-Black Edge, 1966 Arthag .