This technological evolution and the appearance of different types and compositions of putties also forces the bodywork professional to know each one of the variants that can better adapt better to each type of repair: Universal polyester putty Today, the wide variety of types of putties has allowed to improve productivity and profitability in repairs, offering also a better finish. The appearance of these new materials in bodywork has also forced manufacturers to develop new types of specially adapted putties, without detracting any loss of adherence, hardness, drying and sanding. Over time, vehicle manufacturers have evolved bodywork designs, resulting in more complex geometric shapes and design lines, using new easy to shape and lighter weight materials such as plastic or aluminium. In the past, bodywork putties had thicker and coarser finishes, forcing the professional to slow down the putty application and sanding process. The polyester putty must have good adherence to the support. It is essential to use the appropriate putty for each surface, since each type has its own characteristics to optimise anchorage and adherence to the different materials. the number of times it can withstand the same mechanical stress without deteriorating, is also important. The concept of “level of weariness” of the filler, i.e.
Sometimes, if the micronage of the applied coat is excessive, when compressive or tensile stress is exercised, the putty coat and the topcoats of paint may tend to crack or peel. Good resistance to compressive and tensile stress In addition, it should make the sanding process easier, without having to apply excessive pressure or doing several sanding stages. The body filler must be easy to apply and to spread, resulting in a regular and homogeneous surface. Easy application and sanding of the filler In addition, especially on flexible supports such as plastics, the putty must provide elasticity to absorb possible impacts and vibrations, thus preventing cracking. These are the main characteristics a good bodywork putty must provide: Low porosity and high elasticityĪ quality putty should not generate many pores when applied, minimising irregularities on the surface. In addition, the polyester putty cannot function as primer for final finish paints because after sanding, you must apply a priming coat which will act as an insulating and anchoring coat. It should be noted that fillers do not generally provide metal corrosion protection, so if your intention is to provide protection to bare sheet metal, you should first apply an anti-corrosion primer. An essential characteristic of a quality putty is good sanding and levelling behaviour. It plays an essential role as support and adherence element for base paints and its correct application will also influence the final outcome of the finishing.
The use of bodywork putty allows you to even out a metal or plastic surface, filling and levelling the area to be repaired. When the putty is mixed with the hardener, it produces an exothermic chemical reaction (which generates heat) which causes the putty to dry and harden. The polyester putty is a product that is made up of 2 components (also said 2K), since it needs a specific benzoyl peroxide hardener (in a ratio of 2 or 3% of the weight, according to the technical data sheet) to be activated.
Tips for handling polyester putties Characteristics of bodywork puttyĬurrently, the most commonly used type of car putty in paint workshops and bodyshops polyester one, which is a type that is composed of polyester resins.