Instrumented stone chipping of automotive paint systems

Abstract The chipping damage to automotive paint systems due to impact from projectiles launched with a custom-built single impactor instrument was quantified. The effect of impact velocity, angle, and projectile geometry was investigated and quantified via the volume of paint material removed under each impact condition. Damage morphology was shown to agree with that observed during vehicle service life and also after testing at an automotive proving ground. The basecoat color (pigment amount/type and layer thickness) was observed to be significant factor, as was the process by which the substrate was painted. Implications for modeling and further characterization are discussed.