'Self-healing' Paint On Way!

At this time of year, you've got to watch out for April Fool's Day stories - but we can assure you that this isn't one of them. Scientists really have invented paint which heals itself after it's been scratched. All it takes is a few rays of sunshine for the paint to close over the scar, just like skin over a wound.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Max Glaskin

23rd March 2005

Cars get their glossy shine from a special transparent layer on top of the coloured paint. But this ultra-thin coating is scratched by thousands of tiny impacts from road grit and from rubbing when the car is washed. Now, boffins at German firm Bayer have worked out how to make this vital top layer heal itself. The magic formula is called 2K-PUR Clear Coat, and a spokesman told us: "It heals right before your eyes in a few minutes."

In laboratory tests, a panel painted with the new coating was scratched until it had lost 30 per cent of its shine. But after being gently warmed, it recovered virtually all its former sparkle. "Now, we're working on making the scratches disappear in cold weather," explained the spokesman.

The coating won't make production until long-term tests are completed. But preliminary trials show it can withstand being washed with sand and even doused in acid.

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