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Jul 17 2011

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Mazda Receives 2011 JIII Award for Invention of Eco-Friendly Paints

The Three Layer Wet Paint System is a one-step baking and drying coating method that applies three layers of paint in succession - primer coat, coloured base coat and clear top coat - while still wet, without drying in between. Compared to the previous painting system, Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions from the paint shop are reduced 45 percent and CO2 emissions are reduced 15 percent.

In order to achieve the reduction in VOC emissions, Mazda developed new low-solvent paints with reduced VOC content for use with its Three Layer Wet Paint System. Generally, reducing the volume of solvent in paint raises its viscosity and makes the paint unsuitable for coating. To maintain a low paint viscosity, Mazda managed to reduce the size of the paint molecules. However, when low-viscosity, low-solvent paints are applied in three successive layers; the layers tend to mix, causing deterioration in glossiness and cloudy discoloration. Mazda overcame this issue by developing an interface control resin and adding it to the primer coat. The resin forms a barrier at the interface of the paint layers to ensure a high quality coating.

Thanks to the newly developed paints, Mazda is able to eliminate the drying process previously required after applying the primer coat. By directly applying the colour base coat and clear top coat after the primer, CO2 emissions were significantly reduced.

"Following its utilization for mass production at Mazda, the coating method has spread through the automobile industry. More recently, Mazda has successfully developed the Aqua-tech Paint System, a new version of this technology that uses water-based paint, further reducing paint shop VOC emissions. Currently, Mazda is progressively rolling out the Aqua-tech Paint System to its production facilities," informs Annurag Chawla, Head of Marketing & Communications, Towell Auto Centre.

TAC provides quality service to all models of Mazda and makes owning a Mazda extra pleasant with its efficient after sales service and quick response time. With a network of 15 service outlets and ten parts outlets spread across Oman, TAC is the only Mazda distributor in the world to win the Mazda Customer Service award five years in a row. With 98.2 per cent parts deliverability, TAC also offers quick, efficient service with genuine parts available for all models and have highly trained staff who pride in their quality of service. Call the CRM team on 92888005 or visit www.towellauto.com for details.

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© Press Release 2011