Aluminum has been around for quite some time but with the increased usage from many OE manufacturers, aluminum has become the new buzz word. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind to insure proper adhesion when performing aluminum repair.

• Aluminum Oxidation.  Aluminum can oxidize very quickly after being sanded and exposed to air.  This can have a negative impact on the ability of a primer to bond to the aluminum. Therefore, it is critical to prime sanded aluminum panels as soon as possible to protect it from oxidation.

• Avoid cross contamination. Galvanic corrosion will occur when you first sand a steel panel and then use that same sanding disc to sand aluminum. By cross contaminating these metals, the aluminum will corrode and cause the primer to lose adhesion. Therefore it is important to keep sanding discs for aluminum separate from sanding discs used for steel repair. 

By practicing these simple tips, you can rest assured your paint job will be sound over properly prepared aluminum.

Sealers are an important layer in any repair. They offer many benefits to the overall integrity of the paint system such as:

• Improved chip resistance on bumpers and hoods
• Improved color holdout and maximum system gloss retention
• Improved inter-coat adhesion
• Making the repair area smoother for easier blending of basecoat into the OE finish.
• The correct spectral grey undercoat for use with today's vibrant new colors - "Spray to color not coverage!"

Be sure you use a sealer with every repair and your customers will appreciate the extra durability it provides!

Click here to make sure you’re using the proper sealer.
For a complete list of sealers available for all PPG brands, visit our product page here and find “sealers” under the product catalog.