ProXL
ProXL
Climate, pollution, automatic car washes, chemicals and sunlight are all harmful to car paint. Unprotected paint may develop unsightly scratches, discolour or fade, become dull, rough or even start to flake off.
While applying a clear lacquer over car paint will enhance its gloss and depth, it also offers excellent protection.
To give your car the best protection against chemical and mechanical wear you should choose a two-component acrylic lacquer. Also known as 2k clear lacquer, it comprises a lacquer and an activator/hardener that are mixed together immediately before use. When mixed, a chemical reaction between the two parts causes the lacquer to cure, forming an extremely hard and durable surface.
The best 2k clear lacquers contain isocyanates as they are easier to apply and give far superior results. Some argue that isocyanates are potentially hazardous to health and the environment, which is true, but the same can be said of the chemicals contained in isocyanate-free lacquers. Providing the manufacturer’s instructions for use are followed correctly the risk is minimal and far outweighed by the results.
The harsh ultraviolet rays of sunlight can rapidly damage the pigments in car paint. While this is more pronounced with some colours – red is the worst colour for fading – all colours including white will fade over time. They can also damage the paintwork at a molecular level, resulting in an unsightly dullness and physical deterioration.
A UV-resistant clear coat is like a sunblock for automotive paints, containing organic and non-organic UV absorbers that form an invisible shield, preventing or reducing the amount of UV light penetrating the lacquer.
It is always important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the number and thickness of lacquer coats to apply. Too few or too thin coats will result in inadequate UV protection, while if the total depth of the lacquer is too thick this can lead to cracking and crazing.
All clear lacquer spray products from ProXL are UV resistant.
Two-pack lacquers are the best choice for hardness and durability but on the flip side, they can sometimes be harder to work with. If a job doesn’t require the extra performance offered by a 2k clear lacquer, a 1k clear lacquer such as UltraClear Gloss Lacquer from ProXL will give a crystal clear, UV-resistant finish that almost rivals that of a 2k gloss lacquer.
Other professional-quality 1k clear lacquers from ProXL that offer good UV resistance include:
One reason why 1k lacquers are frequently preferred over 2k lacquers is convenience: 1k lacquers generally come in a ‘shake and spray’ aerosol, whereas two-component lacquers have traditionally required mixing, thinning and applying with a spray gun.
All this has been changed by Pro2kClear from ProXL – a genuine 2k isocyanate clear lacquer in an aerosol tin.
The lacquer and activator are stored in separate compartments in the tin and already thinned to the correct spraying consistency. Once the seal between the sections is broken, the can is shaken to mix the components and the lacquer is applied, just like a conventional paint spray can.
Despite their convenience and ease of use, aerosol clear lacquers from ProXL are nothing like standard aerosol lacquers. They all feature the unique Vari-nozzle, giving the user a choice of spray pattern for flexibility and control, enabling results that are every bit as good as those achieved with a professional-quality spray gun.
For more information on the ProXL range of convenient, professional-quality automotive finishes, visit wordpress-885310-3549695.cloudwaysapps.com, call us on 01634 823900 or use our website contact page.
