Reduce Pollution when Spray Painting a Vehicle

A major concern today for all countries globally is the problem of environmental pollution. There are several causes which contribute to overall pollution, one of which includes the paints used within the auto paint industry. This type of paint contains solvents which are made up of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which leads to air pollution by producing ozone (which causes smog). Here are some simple measures which could minimize air pollution arising from auto painting.

Steps

  1. Use High Volume vs. Low Pressure (HVLP) spray:
  2. This can be achieved using a HVLP spray paint gun when painting, which can be connected to any traditional air compressor. HVLP helps by increasing the total volume of paint holding on the surface. As a result the pressure needed to propel the paint is significantly reduced. With the chance of paint adhering to the surface increased, up to 50% of paint can be saved from over-spray.
  3. Two types of guns are:
    1. Siphon feed (cup below nozzle) – requires more pressure.
    2. Gravity feed (cup above nozzle) – requires less pressure. This is the recommended type to help keep over-spray to a minimum.
  4. Use paints in which water can be added i.e. waterborne. They nullify the use of solvents. However, these types of paints are still under development as they remain less durable than conventional paints.

Tips

  • Make sure before starting to apply paint that an air pressure of at least 10 psi is at the tip of the HVLP gun. Inlet pressure will need to be more towards 60 psi.
  • While spraying waterborne paint make sure it is being done in a humidity controlled spray booth as these paints are sensitive to humidity.
  • Always stay aware of government norms and industry regulations regarding this topic area.

Warnings

  • Always make sure you are wearing the correct safety equipment whenever you are spraying any type of paint. Safety must always come first.

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