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General => General discussion => Topic started by: carrie on 17 August 2004, 15:15

Title: red paint
Post by: carrie on 17 August 2004, 15:15

does anyone know why the red paint (mars i think) on mk1/2 golfs seems to fade really badly?

Title: Re: red paint
Post by: AdamB on 17 August 2004, 15:16

all red paint fades badly, Something to do with the way the pigment reacts with sunlight.

Title: Re: red paint
Post by: Len on 17 August 2004, 15:17

Yep and it always seems to be the bonnets that go first!

Title: Re: red paint
Post by: carrie on 17 August 2004, 15:31

but why is mars red so bad at it?
i've never seen other red cars go so bad ie. never seen a faded red bm (except may be astras but then they are astra)

Title: Re: red paint
Post by: Mixologist on 17 August 2004, 15:33

Yup, red fades fast!  My car is becoming a nice carrot arange colour ;D

Title: Re: red paint
Post by: AdamB on 17 August 2004, 15:35

Probably because the pigment that is used is particularly vulnerable to the frequency of sunlight, more so than most others. BMW do have a good reputation for there paint work, so would probably be better protected.
I also remember reading that you shouldnt wax red paint, as this will aid fading. I dont understand how this can be true, but it was a reliable source. :-\

Title: Re: red paint
Post by: Golfgal on 17 August 2004, 15:41

Would the wax particles sit on the paint and act as tiny magnifiers??

Title: Re: red paint
Post by: Mixologist on 17 August 2004, 15:44

Then wouldnt it happen to other paints if it did that???

Anyone used to burn ants with a magnifying glass?

Title: Re: red paint
Post by: Golfgal on 17 August 2004, 15:48

but mixed with the property's of the paint it speeds up the reaction!

Nah we used to leave it lying on paper towel at school so that it wud catch fire and burn down *allegedly*

Title: Re: red paint
Post by: Mixologist on 17 August 2004, 15:50

LOL, More fun with bunsen burners and the bottles of alchohal ;D

Title: Re: red paint
Post by: topher on 17 August 2004, 15:53

its all to do with CMYK and RGB pigmenting systems. red CMYK colours will fade faster than red RGB, so maybe the vw mars red is CMYK ?
(basically all to do with light being reflected from yellow and magenta rather than a base red in RGB) before i confuse myself.. read this

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/nov98/912228411.Ch.r.html

as for the wax thing, i always assumed the wax reflected more light away from the paint making it appear brighter, maybe its all down to UV and our cars need to start wearing sunglasses ?8)

Title: Re: red paint
Post by: carrie on 17 August 2004, 15:58

thanks tophuh, i like to know why and now i know!!

Title: Re: red paint
Post by: Golfgal on 17 August 2004, 16:06

bunsen burners and mg

ah those were the days  8)

Title: Re: red paint
Post by: Mixologist on 17 August 2004, 16:21

Ah yeah. . . . . Dont look into the light!