Vehicle coating structure

Abstract

A vehicle coating structure is provided which is formed on a surface of a base plate of an exterior member of a vehicle. The vehicle coating structure includes a coating layer formed on a surface of a base plate of an exterior member, a peelable layer formed on a surface of the coating layer or a surface of the base plate, the peelable layer having peelability, and a transparent matte layer formed on a surface of the peelable layer, the transparent matte layer being made of a transparent matte coating material.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a vehicle coating structure having a transparent matte layer made of a transparent matte coating material. BACKGROUND

[0002] With regard to a vehicle coating structure, a glossy coating having excellent glossiness is mainly used. However, in recent years, in some cases, it is preferable to use a matte coating which provides a solemn feeling. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-324363 (JP 2005-324363 A) describes a vehicle coating structure having a coating layer in which a coating film is formed by applying a matte coating material. SUMMARY

[0003] However, the coating layer in which the coating film is formed by applying the above-described matte coating material (hereinafter referred to as a matte coating layer) has a problem in that, when irregularities on the surface of the coating layer disappear due to deterioration over time, the matte texture deteriorates and becomes a glossy texture.

[0004] To solve such a problem, the following vehicle coating structure can be conceived. That is, the vehicle coating structure is configured so that a peelable layer having peelability is formed on a coating layer (which can be a matte coating layer), and a matte coating layer is formed on the peelable layer. With regard to this coating structure, in the case where the matte texture deteriorates, the matte coating layer and the peelable layer can be peeled off. However, this vehicle coating structure requires high manufacturing cost and high material cost.

[0005] In view of this, an object of the present application is to provide a vehicle coating structure which can reduce manufacturing cost and material cost.

[0006] The vehicle coating structure according to the present application is a vehicle coating structure formed on a surface of a substrate of an exterior member of a vehicle. The vehicle coating structure includes a coating layer, a peelable layer, and a transparent matte layer. The coating layer is formed on the surface of the substrate of the exterior member. The peelable layer is formed on a surface of the coating layer or a surface of the substrate, the peelable layer having peelability. The transparent matte layer is formed on a surface of the peelable layer, the transparent matte layer being made of a transparent matte coating material.

[0007] In the vehicle coating structure according to the present application, the peelable layer and the transparent matte layer can be formed on the coating layer of each of some of a plurality of exterior members provided as exterior members of a vehicle.

[0008] In the vehicle coating structure according to the present application, the peelable layer and the transparent matte layer can be formed only on the coating layer of the exterior member, the coating layer being visually observable.

[0009] According to the vehicle coating structure of the present application, manufacturing cost and material cost can be reduced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] Features, advantages, technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:

[0011] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle according to one embodiment;

[0012] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a vehicle coating structure as an example of the embodiment;

[0013] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a vehicle coating structure as another example of the embodiment;

[0014] Figure 4 is another perspective view showing a vehicle according to the embodiment; and

[0015] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a vehicle coating structure in the related art. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present application will be described in detail. In the following description, specific shapes, materials, directions, values, and the like are examples to facilitate understanding of the present application, and can be modified as appropriate according to use, purpose, specifications, and the like.

[0017] Vehicle

[0018] Referring to Figure 1 , a vehicle 10 according to the embodiment will be described below.

[0019] As shown in Figure 1 , the vehicle 10 is, for example, a four-wheel passenger car, but is not limited thereto. The vehicle 10 includes an exterior member 11. Here, the exterior member 11 includes an outer panel and exterior parts (described later).

[0020] The outer panel is a member constituting a vehicle body, and denotes an outer panel panel that can be visually observed (in other words, from the outside of the vehicle 10). The outer panel includes, for example, a hood panel, a roof panel, a trunk lid 12, a front fender panel 13, a rear fender panel 14, a front door outer, a rear door outer, a front pillar, a center pillar, a rear pillar, and the like. For example, a hot-rolled steel sheet or a cold-rolled steel sheet is used as a material of the outer panel.

[0021] The exterior component is a component that is visually observable and is configured to be assembled to the vehicle body. The exterior component includes, for example, a front bumper cover 15, a rear bumper cover 16, a rocker panel molding, a door handle, a fuel filler door, a side mirror, a roof molding, a door belt molding, and a weather strip, a window molding, and a shark fin, and the like. A resin material is used as a material of the exterior component. Note that, for the fuel filler door, a steel sheet can be used.

[0022] Coating structure

[0023] Reference Figures 2 to 4 A coating structure 20 that will be described as an example of an embodiment will be described.

[0024] The outer panel that is the exterior member 11 includes a base plate 19 made of a steel sheet or the like, and a coating structure 20 that is a vehicle coating structure formed to cover the base plate 19. Further, the exterior component that is the exterior member 11 includes a base plate 19 such as a resin member, and a coating structure 20 that is a vehicle coating structure formed to cover the resin member. That is, in a case where the exterior member 11 is an outer panel, the base plate 19 indicates a steel sheet having a surface on which the coating structure 20 is formed, and in a case where the exterior member 11 is an exterior component, the base plate 19 indicates a resin member having a surface on which the coating structure 20 is formed. Note that the base plate 19 includes a color-in-mold coating resin that is a material obtained by coloring a resin itself so that a coloring material such as a pigment is mixed with a resin material or a bright material and a coloring material are mixed with a resin material.

[0025] The coating structure 20 includes a coating layer 30 formed on a surface of the base plate 19, and a peelable layer 40 and a transparent matte layer 50 formed on an outer surface that is visually observable of the coating layer 30 or the base plate 19. Note that, in a case where the base plate 19 is constituted by the color-in-mold coating resin described above, the peelable layer 40 and the transparent matte layer 50 can be formed on an outer surface that is visually observable of the base plate 19.

[0026] The coating layer 30 is a layer formed on a surface of the base plate 19 as described above, and the coating layer 30 is preferably formed on each exterior member 11 before the vehicle 10 is completed. The coating layer 30 is preferably formed in a production factory of the vehicle 10.

[0027] The coating layer 30 includes an electrodeposition layer 31 formed to cover the entire surface of the substrate 19, an intermediate coating layer 32 formed on the entire surface of the electrodeposition layer 31, a base layer 33 formed on the entire surface of the intermediate coating layer 32, and a transparent layer 34 formed on the entire surface of the base layer 33.

[0028] The electrodeposition layer 31 is a layer formed of an electrodeposition coating film hardened by baking through electrodeposition coating. The electrodeposition coating can be, for example, cationic electrodeposition coating. The cationic electrodeposition coating material is not particularly limited, and a well-known material is used. The cationic electrodeposition coating material can include a cationic base resin, a hardener, and a pigment.

[0029] The intermediate coating layer 32 is a layer formed of a colored intermediate coating film by applying a colored intermediate coating material including a titanium dioxide pigment and a coloring pigment. The titanium dioxide pigment and the coloring pigment are not particularly limited, and a well-known pigment is used.

[0030] The base layer 33 is a layer formed of a base coating material coating film by applying a base coating material. The base coating material is not particularly limited, and a well-known material is used. As the base coating material, a solvent-based colored base coating material paint or a water-based colored base coating material is preferably used.

[0031] The transparent layer 34 is a layer in which a transparent coating film is formed by applying a transparent coating material. The film-forming resin and the hardener used for the transparent coating material are not particularly limited, and a well-known material is used. The transparent coating material can include a film-forming resin and a hardener.

[0032] Meanwhile, the coating layer 30 of the coating structure 20 of the exterior component includes a primer layer formed to cover the surface of the substrate 19, a base layer formed on the surface of the primer layer, and a transparent layer formed on the surface of the base layer.

[0033] The peelable layer 40 is a resin coating film formed on the surface of the coating layer 30. Since the peelable layer 40 is formed by applying an easy-peel coating material, the peelable layer 40 has a peeling property compared to the coating layer 30 and the transparent matte layer 50. The material used for the easy-peel coating material is not particularly limited, as long as the material is easy to peel from the coating layer 30.

[0034] As the easy-peel coating material, a coating material formed by adding, for example, xylene, ethylbenzene, an oxidation inhibitor, methyl ethyl ketone, a silica reactant, titanium oxide (nanoparticles), an organic solvent, or the like to a polyurethane-based resin or an acrylic resin as a main material is preferably used. The peelable layer 40 can be formed such that the coating material is applied by spray coating, brush coating, or the like, and then dried.

[0035] The peelable layer 40 and the transparent matte layer 50 (details of which will be described later) can be formed on the coating structure 20 of each of some of the exterior members 11 of the vehicle 10. More specifically, the peelable layer 40 and the transparent matte layer 50 can be formed only in portions in which the user desires a dignified texture.

[0036] For example, the peelable layer 40 and the transparent matte layer 50 can be formed only on the surface of the coating layer 30 of each of the outer panels among the exterior members 11. Furthermore, the peelable layer 40 and the transparent matte layer 50 can be formed only on the surface of the coating layer 30 of each of the hood panel and the roof panel among these outer panels. This makes it possible to achieve a dignified texture in portions desired by the user.

[0037] It is preferable that, as described above, the peelable layer 40 and the transparent matte layer 50 be formed only on a visually observable surface of the coating layer 30 of the exterior member 11. Here, the visually observable surface indicates a portion other than a portion covered by another member disposed thereon in an overlapping manner, such as the side end surface 13B (see Figure 3 ) of the front fender panel 13 (details will be described later) and the portion 14AH (see Figure 4 ) of the rear fender panel 14 covered by the trunk lid 12 and the rear bumper cover 16.

[0038] Therefore, after the vehicle 10 is completed, the peelable layer 40 and the transparent matte layer 50 can be applied to each of the exterior members 11. Furthermore, the peelable layer 40 and the transparent matte layer 50 can be peeled off without disassembling the exterior member 11. Therefore, the peelable layer 40 and the transparent matte layer 50 can be applied or peeled off at a repair shop provided by a dealer of the vehicle 10. Note that the peelable layer 40 and the transparent matte layer 50 can be applied in a production factory of the vehicle 10.

[0039] The transparent matte layer 50 is a layer formed on the surface of the peelable layer 40 and is formed of a transparent matte coating film by applying a transparent matte coating material. As a gloss value of the coating surface of the transparent matte layer 50, the 60-degree specular reflectance based on JIS K 5400 6-7 is equal to or less than 50%, preferably equal to or less than 30%.

[0040] The transparent matte coating material is not particularly limited and a publicly known material is used. The matte property of the transparent matte coating material can be achieved such that silica or resin beads are mixed in the transparent matte coating material to roughen the surface of the coating film. Furthermore, as the transparent matte coating material, a coating material containing a binder resin and polyurethane resin particles can be used. The binder resin contains an acrylate-modified chlorinated polypropylene, a polyurethane resin, and a compatibilizer.

[0041] Since the transparent matte layer 50 is transparent, and the coating layer 30 is visible through the transparent matte layer 50, the edge of the transparent matte layer 50 (the boundary between the transparent matte layer 50 and the coating layer 30) is not conspicuous in appearance. For this reason, fine masking is not required when applying the transparent matte coating material. This makes it possible to reduce manufacturing costs.

[0042] As described above, the peelable layer 40 and the transparent matte layer 50 are formed only on the visually observable surface of the coating layer 30. For example, as shown in Figure 3 the visually observable surface of the front fender panel 13 is the outer surface 13A of the front fender panel 13, and does not include the side end surface 13B and the back surface 13C.

[0043] The side end surface 13B of the front fender panel 13 is the surface of the portion that is curved inward from the outer surface 13A toward the vehicle 10. The side end surface 13B faces the side end surface 15B of the front bumper cover 15 across a gap. The back surface 13C of the front fender panel 13 is the surface on the opposite side from the outer surface 13A.

[0044] In other words, the outer peripheral edge G of the peelable layer 40 and the transparent matte layer 50 of the front fender panel 13 is formed along the joint portion between the front fender panel 13 and the front bumper cover 15. Thereby, the peelable layer 40 and the transparent matte layer 50 of the front fender panel 13 can be peeled off without removing the front bumper cover 15 from the front fender panel 13.

[0045] Further, for example, as shown in Figure 4 the visually observable surface of the rear fender panel 14 is the portion of the outer surface 14A other than the portion 14AH that is covered by the trunk lid 12 and the rear bumper cover 16, which are disposed so as to overlap the portion 14AH.

[0046] In other words, the outer peripheral edge G of the peelable layer 40 and the transparent matte layer 50 of the rear fender panel 14 is formed on the outer surface 14A of the rear fender panel 14 along the outer peripheral edge of the rear bumper cover 16. Therefore, in a state in which the rear bumper cover 16 is closed with respect to the rear fender panel 14, the peelable layer 40 and the transparent matte layer 50 of the rear fender panel 14 can be peeled off.

[0047] Effects

[0048] In the related art, in a matte coating layer, when irregularities on the surface of the coating layer disappear due to deterioration over time, the matte texture deteriorates and changes to a glossy texture. In order to solve this problem, a Figure 5The illustrated vehicle coating structure 120. The vehicle coating structure 120 is configured such that the peelable layer 140 having peelability is formed on the coating layer 130 (which can be a matte coating layer), and the matte coating layer 150 is formed on the peelable layer 140. However, the vehicle coating structure 120 requires high manufacturing cost and high material cost.

[0049] As for the coating structure 20 of the present embodiment, the transparent matte layer 50 is used instead of the matte coating layer 150, and thus, as compared with the coating structure in the related art, the base layer (not shown) of the matte coating layer 150 can be omitted and the material cost can be reduced.

[0050] Further, as for the coating structure 20, when the peelable layer 40 and the transparent matte layer 50 are applied to some of the exterior members 11 of the vehicle 10, it is not necessary to cover the coating layer 30 with the peelable layer 40 and the transparent matte layer 50. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform fine masking, and thus, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost.

[0051] Note that the present application is not limited to the above-described embodiments and variations thereof, and needless to say, various changes and modifications can be made within the scope described in the claims of the present specification.

Claims

1. A vehicle coating structure formed on a surface of a substrate of an exterior member of a vehicle, the vehicle coating structure characterized by comprising: a coating layer formed on a surface of the substrate of the exterior member; a peelable layer formed on a surface of the coating layer, the peelable layer having peelability; and a transparent matte layer formed on a surface of the peelable layer, the transparent matte layer made of a transparent matte coating material, wherein the transparent matte layer is formed by applying a transparent matte coating material to form a transparent matte coating film, wherein the matte property of the transparent matte coating material is achieved by mixing silica or resin beads in the transparent matte coating material to roughen a surface of the transparent matte coating film, wherein the peelable layer and the transparent matte layer are formed on the coating layer of each of some of a plurality of exterior members provided as the exterior member of the vehicle, wherein the peelable layer and the transparent matte layer are formed only on a surface of the coating layer of the exterior member that is visually observable, and are not formed on a surface of the coating layer of the exterior member that is not visually observable, wherein the peelable layer is formed by applying an easy-peel coating material, wherein, as the easy-peel coating material, a coating material formed by adding xylene, ethylbenzene, an oxidation inhibitor, methyl ethyl ketone, a silica reactant, titanium oxide nanoparticles, and an organic solvent to a polyurethane-based resin or an acrylic resin as a main material is used, wherein the coating material is applied by spray coating or brush coating and then dried to form the peelable layer. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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