Chevrolet develops slip, slop, slap, for carbon fibre

Chevrolet engineers have developed a hi-tech 'sunscreen' to stop exposed-weave carbon fibre burns.

"Not many people realise that, like human skin, the paintwork of your car burns when exposed to the sun," said Mark Voss, senior design engineer for the Corvette ZR1, "but rather than turning red or tanning, UV rays degrade the protective outer clear coat that protects it from scratches.
"In extreme cases, it peels, much in the same way as your skin a few days after you've been to the beach and you're sunburnt. Not only does the color fade, but it creates lasting damage to the vehicle."
Every time the paintwork on the surface is exposed to harsh UV rays some of the paint's compound is broken down or even removed. Most original finishes are tougher on the outer surface than the underneath layers so the outer layer needs to be preserved as far as possible.

Three years of development

Voss and his team worked for three years to develop a glossy, UV-resistant paint that not only shields carbon fiber components from chips and scratches, but harmful sunlight as well.
"Everyone said it couldn't be done, and we were crazy for trying," adds Mark. "Automotive paint industry experts said it was nearly impossible and that painting over carbon fiber was the only option."
"Our challenge was finding a way to give our customers the exposed-weave carbon fiber look they demanded. The UV coating looks glossy, has similar UV properties and works on the same principle as NIVEA sunscreen by creating a protective barrier that guards against sunburn and premature ageing over the lifetime of the vehicle," concludes Voss.

 The story behind Corvette UV sun screen can be found on YouTube.