Allnex

Automotive clearcoats are expected to deliver long-lasting gloss and protection, even under frequent mechanical stress from washing and everyday use. Traditional approaches to improving scratch resistance rely on making the coating harder through increased crosslinking, but this strategy reaches natural limits of carbon-carbon bond and can make the coating brittle. Hard particles such as silica are another option, yet they typically distribute evenly throughout the film, which means a high amount is needed before the surface performance improves. We introduce a new approach that allows silica to move preferentially toward the surface during film formation. By pairing the particles with a specially designed carrier resin, the additive becomes surface-active, enabling stronger scratch and mar resistance at lower loadings and cost-effective option. This translates directly into better durability during car washes, improved resistance to everyday rubbing or contact, and enhanced protection against dirt accumulation and graffiti. Because the carrier-resin concept can be applied to other functional materials, it opens new opportunities for developing clearcoats with targeted and more efficient surface performance.