Development of a predictive model for the changes in roughness that occurs during the painting process

A model involving surface and coating parameters was developed to relate their effects on the formation of the paint/air interface. In this investigation, the study included selective changes in coating material properties (molecular weight, percent solids, surface tension, and viscosity) in addition to the changes in substrate roughness (25.4, 50.8, and 76.2 μm grooves) and film thickness. The change in roughness (DELTRT) that occurred with painting was used and is defined as the difference between the initial and the final peak-to-valley roughness, Rt. The change in the topcoat roughness was expressed as a function of initial roughness (RTB), film thickness (FILM), and paint properties.