Don Porter
New member
- Nov 3, 2012
- 33
- 0
Had a fellow ask me"if a clear coat is clear, why does it show up white when scratched". I told him I wasn't sure, but may be do to pigmentation. Anyone have the real reason?Feed back please
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This is why:
(I tried to insert a #### link but it is broken for some reason... I will paraphrase instead)
When paint is polished to a high level of perfection the light bouncing off the paint and into your eyes is the result of specular reflection (a mirror like reflection of light). When a surface is rough (like when a scratch interrupts the perfection of highly polished paint) the light is scattered, resulting in diffuse reflection. This causes light to be scattered away from your eye and in random directions. Most objects that we see are the result of diffuse reflection.
When clear coat paint is polished to a high level of perfection you essentially cannot see the clear coat, rather, you see through the clear layer. When it is scratched or imperfect the optical clarity is distorted causing diffuse reflection allowing you to see the clear coat; or, more specifically to see the imperfections in the clear layer.
Thanks Mike. That's the answer I was waiting on.
Had a fellow ask me"if a clear coat is clear, why does it show up white when scratched".
I told him I wasn't sure, but may be do to pigmentation.
Anyone have the real reason?Feed back please