I-CAR ProLevel Refinish flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Isocyanate PEL

OSHA permissible exposure limit is 0.005 ppm as an 8-hour time-weighted average and 0.02 ppm as a 10-minute ceiling; air-purifying respirators are not acceptable protection.

Supplied-air respirator requirement

Spraying or mixing 2K isocyanate products requires a supplied-air respirator such as Type C pressure-demand, because cartridge respirators do not reliably remove isocyanates.

VOC as applied

Volatile organic content is measured on the material as mixed for spraying, so reducer and hardener volume change the compliance value of the coating.

Spontaneous combustion rags

Solvent- and oil-soaked rags and booth filters can self-heat; place them in a listed self-closing metal container and remove them from the building daily.

Bonding and grounding

Solvent drums, guns, and the part being cleaned must share a common ground to prevent static discharge sparks that can ignite flammable vapors.

Plastic ID code

Molded ISO codes on the back of plastic parts identify the polymer family, which determines the adhesion promoter and flexibility additives the refinish system needs.

Magnet substrate test

A magnet attracts steel but not aluminum or plastic, giving a quick separation of ferrous from non-ferrous substrates before abrasive work begins.

Aluminum preparation

Abrade aluminum, then apply a conversion coating or aluminum-compatible epoxy primer promptly, because aluminum oxide reforms quickly and blocks adhesion.

Galvanized steel caution

Do not sand through the zinc coating; clean and abrade lightly, then use a primer specified for zinc because some acid-etch and epoxy products react with it.

Unknown coating solvent test

Apply lacquer thinner to a hidden area; if the existing finish lifts or wrinkles, it must be stripped or sealed rather than sanded and topcoated.

Two-cloth cleaning

Wipe wax-and-grease remover with a wet cloth, then immediately wipe dry with a clean cloth, preventing redeposited contamination and silicone-caused fisheyes.

Three-angle color reading

Effect colors are measured at roughly 15, 45, and 75 degrees to capture face, mid, and flop; solid colors can be read at a single angle.

OEM variant selection

Color retrieval systems list OEM variants by plant and model year; selecting the correct variant before tinting reduces the amount of adjustment needed.

Mix ratio arithmetic

For a 4:1:1 ratio, total parts equal six; multiply the desired total volume by each part divided by six to get each component volume.

Pot life start point

Pot life begins when hardener is added to the base, not when spraying starts; material past pot life will not cure correctly.

Metamerism check

Compare the sprayout and the vehicle under two different light sources; a match that shifts color between sources indicates a metameric mismatch needing tint adjustment.

Sprayout panel purpose

A cured sprayout shows the true dry color and flake orientation, because wet mixed paint can look different from the finished film.

Dynamic inlet pressure

Set gun inlet pressure with the trigger pulled and air flowing; static pressure readings overstate the air reaching the cap and distort atomization.

Fluid tip sizing

Smaller tips around 1.2 to 1.3 mm suit low-viscosity basecoat and clear; larger tips around 1.4 to 1.8 mm suit primers and high-build products.

Split fan pattern

A fan pattern with a gap or split tail indicates a clogged or damaged fluid tip or excessive air, and must be corrected before spraying.

HVLP transfer efficiency

HVLP guns typically transfer 65 percent or more of the material to the surface at low cap pressure, reducing overspray and material consumption.

Gun cleaning caution

Never use a hard pick on the fluid tip or needle seat; scratches change the spray pattern and cannot be corrected by adjustment.

Booth balance check

Verify intake and exhaust balance, filter loading, and temperature before spraying; an unbalanced booth draws overspray onto the wet film.

Solvent pop cause

Solvent pop appears as small craters when trapped solvent escapes a film applied too thick or flashed too briefly between coats.

Orange peel cause

A pebbled surface results from high viscosity, insufficient atomizing air, or spraying too far from the panel, so the droplets do not flow out.

Fisheye cause

Fisheyes are circular craters caused by surface or airborne contamination such as oil, silicone, or water; correct cleaning and filtration, not additives, solve them.

Dry spray cause

Excessive gun distance, fast passes, or too much air let droplets partially dry before landing, producing a rough, non-glossy texture that must be sanded out.

Recoat window

The data sheet states when the next coat may be applied without sanding; spraying after the window closes without sanding risks intercoat adhesion failure.

Blend edge control

Use blending solvent or reduced material and keep metallic blend edges away from panel centers; a visible tape line is the most common blend failure.

Dry film thickness gauge

A mil gauge on the cured film confirms the specified dry film build; excessive build increases chipping, cracking, and solvent retention.

Documented system compatibility

Primer, sealer, basecoat, and clearcoat must come from a documented compatible system; undocumented brand mixing can void warranty and cause adhesion failure.

Product data sheet fields

Check mix ratio, pot life, induction time, film thickness, flash time, recoat window, and VOC on the data sheet before every job.