Car manufacturers are increasing the use of plastic in the manufacture of cars (bumpers, spoilers, even body panels, etc.). In case of serious damage to such elements, it is recommended to contact specialists in this field or replace them, since repairs are very expensive in a conventional car repair shop due to the high cost of equipment and materials. The basis of the repair technology is the creation of a groove with a rotary file inserted into an electric drill along the line of a crack in the plastic. The damaged elements are then welded together with a heat gun used to heat and fuse the plastic filler rod into the groove. Excess plastic is then removed, and the entire area is treated to obtain an even and smooth surface. It is very important to use the correct type of filler rod as plastic body parts can be made from a variety of materials (polycarbonate, ABS, polypropylene, etc.).
minor damage (wear, small cracks, etc.) can be removed at the repair shop with a two-component epoxy repair mortar. If they are mixed in equal proportions, the solution is used to repair the body in a similar way to the use of putty on metal surfaces. The filler usually hardens in 20-30 minutes and is ready for processing and painting.
If a repair shop replaces an entire body part or repairs it with an epoxy solution, then the problem is finding a paint that is compatible with the type of plastic being used. The use of universal paints is not possible due to the large number of different types of plastic from which body parts are made. Conventional paints will not adhere well to plastic or rubber. However, it is now possible to purchase a kit for the final stage of plastic processing, which includes compositions for pre- and primary surface treatment of plastics and multi-colored compositions for applying the final layer. A complete list of instructions for use is usually included with the kit, but the main method of using it is to apply a preliminary composition to the surface to be treated and then hold it for 30 minutes before drying. Then the primary composition is applied, which dries for 1 hour before applying the colored layer of the final composition. The result is a body element painted in the required color, on the rubber or plastic surface of which the paint adheres well.