Paint Breakdown??? Looks like it to me...

[GranPrix]

One of the local S2000 club members asked me to look at some "stains" he had on his car. He said they might have been tree sap, he's not sure because he's the 3rd owner. I went out and here's what I found...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b101/Dariomend/GusDetail005.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b101/Dariomend/GusDetail003.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b101/Dariomend/GusDetail007.jpg


http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b101/Dariomend/GusDetail010.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b101/Dariomend/GusDetail014.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b101/Dariomend/gus028.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b101/Dariomend/gus030.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b101/Dariomend/gus031.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b101/Dariomend/gus105.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b101/Dariomend/gus106.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b101/Dariomend/gus107.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b101/Dariomend/gus108.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b101/Dariomend/gus110.jpg

[richy]

Wow..whatcha do?? Shoot it with a microscope? It looks like something on the surface..I don't know but I'd do the usual..start with the least aggressive and work your way up.

[GranPrix]

I used a Sony CyberShot 6 mp

http://www.phototronic.co.nz/Sales/sony/images/DSCW50S_M.jpg

I'ts been polished and wetsand was the only thing that would take them out except for a couple like these. Looks like the paint was broken down.

[daveo]

Lol Richy, I was thinking that or a Hubble Teleloscope. That is some really good definition. Almost too good to tell what it is.

[budman3]

I, too, am amazed with the quality of the picture. I have never looked at paint that closely before but it does look like the paint is indeed damaged, especially if you can't feel anything sitting on the surface. It could have been from a number of things... sap, acid etching, a bird bomb, a wet leaf, etc.

[BMSPEED]

wow! what incredible close up clarity on those pics, does the camera have x-ray vision too!!:D

[killrflake]

I think I saw live bacteria in those photos. You might want to use some bleech to kill those before anything else lol.

[PWORLDSTANG]

I have no idea what is on his paint...... But WOW, incredible pictures!

[Andy Wayan]

its paint breakdown alrite..

[TOGWT]

Clear Coat Failure:
When a clear coat area appears to have an opaque ‘white or grey chalky’ or ‘cloudy’ look, this is the resin or paint binder system, which is indicative of clear coat failure, sometimes due to;

(a) Polishing the clear coat too often or using an aggressive abrasive polish / compound that has compromised the clear coat down to the colour (base) coat (sanding through) this can be checked with a paint thickness gauge. Clear coat that is too thin looses its ability to adhere effectively (delaminating) to the underlying paint layer and will flake off. Bear in mind that a clear coat has a thickness of 1.5 – 2.0 Mils, removing more that 0.3 – 0.5 Milsof clear coat may cause premature paint film failure. As a point of reference a sheet of Saran wrap measures 0.95 Mils

(b) Results of water permeating the clear coat in a localized area, along with high temperatures causing the clear coat to expand and often separate from the base coat

(c) Vehicle being washed with unapproved chemicals such as hydrofluoric acid, uninhibited oxalic acids or strong mixtures of sulphuric/phosphoric acids, which enter the breach formed in the clear coat and attack the resin binder system.

(d) Environmental acidic damage plus heat that compromises the paint surface causing etching of the surface (acid rain, bird excrement, highly alkaline water from lawn sprinklers) or ultra violet radiation (UVR)

Clear coat failure becomes noticeable when a section becomes opaque as it reflects less gloss than surrounding areas; this can be ascertained very clearly with an inspection light. More often than not this condition cannot be corrected by buffing or levelling the surface, it requires the refinishing of the paint system