Primer for plastic for painting cars: how to use, rating of the best

The color of the product is also important. Transparent materials do not mask the color of the bumper, so more paint will be needed to keep the plastic from showing through. It is good when the colors of the primer and enamel match.

The share of plastic elements in cars is constantly growing. During the restoration of the exterior of the car, car repairmen face difficulties: paint rolls off bumpers, sills, spoilers, moldings. A primer on plastic for cars comes to the rescue. The list of the best manufacturers of primers, composition features, application methods are of interest not only to professionals, but also to ordinary owners who are accustomed to servicing vehicles on their own.

What is a plastic primer

Primer - an intermediate layer between the plastic element and the paintwork.

Primer for plastic

The material performs the following tasks:

• smoothes out irregularities and cracks in parts;
• provides adhesion between the base and the paintwork;
• protects body parts from paint and environmental influences.

Primers for a car for plastic manufacturers produce the following types:

• Acrylic. Non-toxic, odorless formulations create a stable, durable film on the surface.
• Alkyd. Strong odor mixtures based on alkyd resins are suitable for use in profiled car workshops. The joints are characterized by high adhesion and elasticity.
• Epoxy primers. The materials consist of two main components with the addition of fillers and dyes.

The goods are packed in aerosol cans (for home craftsmen) and cylinders for a spray gun (for service stations). The compositions are not masking transparent or gray, black, white. Choose the color of the primer to match the paintwork of the car in order to save on expensive car enamel in the future.

Do I need to prime plastic before painting on a car?

Automotive plastic parts have a number of advantages: light weight, anti-corrosion resistance, noise-reducing and heat-insulating properties. The natural aging process of the material stops the paintwork. However, plastic and durable plastic is characterized by poor adhesion (adhesion) with car enamel and varnish.

For casting body elements, manufacturers use chemically inert polypropylene and its modifications. The smooth, non-porous surface of non-polar plastics has a low surface tension, so the higher surface energy ink tends to drop on the propylene.

At factories, the problem is solved by processing parts with corona discharges, gas flames, and other complex technological operations. Large-scale methods are not possible in a repair shop and garage environment. For such purposes, chemists have come up with an alternative way to bind polypropylene with paint - this is a primer for plastic for painting auto bumpers and other elements.

Paint plastic car without a primer

Some types of plastics do not need a primer before painting. Only a specialist can determine this by external signs. There are two ways to check if it is possible to paint the plastic of a car without a primer:

1. Dismantle the part, set it on fire in an inconspicuous place. If it immediately starts to smoke, a primer is required. However, it is better to refrain from the dangerous barbaric method and use the second method.
2. Place the removed body element in a container with a sufficient amount of water. A part that will go to the bottom like metal does not need to be primed.

Paint plastic car without a primer

Stages of painting without a primer:

1. Use sandpaper, thinner or a blow dryer to remove the previous cladding.
2. With isopropyl alcohol, soapy water, wash off grease stains, oil streaks, and other contaminants from the surface.
3. Degrease the plastic.
4. Treat with an antistatic agent.
5. Apply a layer of putty, after drying, sand the surface.
6. Degrease the base again.

Next, according to the technology, priming follows, which you skip and proceed directly to staining.

Primer for plastic for painting cars: rating of the best

The final result of refreshing the car body depends on the selected materials. Customer reviews and expert opinion formed the basis of the ranking of the best manufacturers of primers for plastic cars.

Enamel primer KUDO for plastic, black, 520 ml

In addition to acrylic resins, xylene, methyl acetate, the manufacturer included functional components in the composition of a high-quality quick-drying primer-enamel. The latter give additional resistance of coatings to mechanical and chemical influences. Many painters recognize the primer for plastic in spray cans for cars as the best among analogues.

Beautiful body primer

The material has high adhesive and moisture-proof qualities. Primer-enamel KUDO works well with all groups of plastics, except for polyethylene and polyurethane. The elastic composition does not crack after drying in a wide temperature range.

Specifications:

Manufacturer	KUDO
Application area	For plastic
Packaging form	Aerosol can
Volume, ml	520
Net weight, g	360
Number of components	Single component
Chemical base	Acrylic
Drying time between layers, min.	10
Drying time to touch, min.	20
Time to complete drying, min.	120
Surface	Matte
Temperature corridor of operation	-10 ° C - +35 ° C

Item number - 15941632, price - from 217 rubles.

Aerosol primer-filler KUDO KU-6000 transparent 0.5 l

Aerosol primer-filler KUDO

The adhesion activator is necessary at the stage of preparation for decorative painting of external plastic car parts: bumpers, sills, moldings. A layer of the agent is applied before priming the surfaces.

The material provides reliable adhesion of the primer and car enamel to the base. Primer filler KUDO KU-6000 is characterized by moisture resistance, elasticity, fast hardening.

Working parameters:

Brand name	KUDO
Application area	For plastic
Packaging form	Aerosol can
Volume, ml	500
Net weight, g	350
Number of components	Single component
Chemical base	Acrylic
Color	Transparent
Drying time between layers, min.	10-15
Drying time to touch, min.	20
Time to complete drying, min.	20
Surface	Matte
Temperature corridor of operation	-10 ° C - +35 ° C

Article - KU-6000, price - from 260 rubles.

Aerosol primer KUDO adhesion activator for plastic (KU-6020) gray 0.5 l

Among the 1500 commodity items of the leader in the production of auto chemical goods, KUDO, a worthy place is occupied by an adhesion activator primer under the article KU-6020. The surface to be painted can be plastics of any type, with the exception of the groups of polyethylene and polypropylene.

Primer for plastic paint spray for cars based on acrylic resin provides an unparalleled adhesion of the paintwork to interior and exterior automotive plastic parts. The quick-drying composition with increased adhesion does not crack after drying, protects the treated surfaces from external influences.

Performance:

Brand name	KUDO
Application area	For car care
Packaging form	Aerosol can
Volume, ml	500
Net weight, g	350
Number of components	Single component
Chemical base	Acrylic
Color	Gray
Drying time between layers, min.	10-15
Drying time to touch, min.	30
Time to complete drying, min.	30
Temperature corridor of operation	-10 ° C - +35 ° C

Price - from 270 rubles.

Aerosol primer MOTIP Deco Effect Plastic Primer colorless 0.4 l

An easy-to-use, fully prepared aerosol primer is used to prepare plastic panels for further painting. The consistency of a colorless one-component product allows you to close up small cracks, smooth out uneven body parts.

primed body

The chemical formula of the primer protects bumpers, sills, decorative elements of body pillars and wheel arches from temperature changes, early abrasion.

Technical parameters of primer for plastic auto aerosol:

Brand name	MOTIP, the Netherlands
Application area	For body care
Packaging form	Aerosol can
Volume, ml	400
Net weight, g	423
Number of components	Single component
Chemical base	Polyolefin
Color	Colorless
Drying time between layers, min.	10-15
Drying time to touch, min.	30
Time to complete drying, min.	30
Minimum application temperature	+15 ° C

Article - 302103, price - 380 rubles.

ReoFlex plastic primer

Leveling, filling material produced in Russia is designed to improve the adhesion of paintwork with a plastic base. Colorless high-quality primer eliminates cracking and peeling of car enamel.

ReoFlex plastic primer

The mixture, packaged in 0,8 l cans, must be filled into the spray gun through a filter funnel. A primer that does not require dilution is sprayed in several thin (5-10 microns) layers onto plastic previously matted with abrasive materials and degreased with anti-silicone. Having filled the auto chemical agent into the sprayer, stand for 10 minutes. Each coat of primer takes up to 15 minutes to dry.

Technical data:

Brand name	ReoFlex
Application area	Primary primer for the body
Packaging form	metal can
Volume, ml	800
Number of components	Two-component
Chemical base	Epoxy primer
Color	Colorless
Drying time between layers, min.	10-15
Drying time to touch, min.	30
Time to complete drying, min.	30
Minimum application temperature	+20 ° C

Article - RX P-06, price - from 1 rubles.

Aerosol primer MOTIP Plastic Primer colorless 0.4 l

A German product with improved adhesion properties with a smooth plastic surface, it is completely ready for use. The material dries quickly, is resistant to temperature extremes, and is combined with any type of car paint.

It is enough to shake the spray for 2 minutes and spray on the bumper from a distance of 20-25 cm. It is not necessary to grind the primer.

Performance:

Brand name	MOTIP, Germany
Application area	For body care
Packaging form	Aerosol can
Volume, ml	400
Number of components	Single component
Chemical base	Acrylic
Color	Colorless
Drying time between layers, min.	10-15
Drying time to touch, min.	20
Time to complete drying, min.	120
Minimum application temperature	+15 ° C

Article - MP9033, price - from 380 rubles.

How to properly prime a plastic surface

The air temperature in the box for painting cars (in the garage) should be + 5- + 25 ° C, humidity - no more than 80%.

How to properly prime a plastic surface

Priming is preceded by preparatory work:

1. Surface cleaning.
2. Sandpaper processing.
3. Degreasing.
4. Antistatic treatment.

After that, it is necessary to prime the plastic before painting on a car in several steps:

1. Apply the first coat with a soft natural fiber brush or spray.
2. The drying time of the film is indicated by the manufacturer, but it is more reasonable to withstand 1 hour.
3. After this time, apply a second coat of primer.
4. Level the dried surface and matte.
5. Dry the material completely, wipe with a non-fibrous cloth moistened with solvent.

Now start coloring.

What primer to prime a plastic bumper on a car

The bumpers on the car are the first to take the hits in collisions, suffer from stones and gravel from the road. In addition, the protective parts are constantly deformed during the operation of the car. Therefore, in addition to the ability to adhere paint to the base, the compositions must have elasticity: withstand twisting and bending bumpers.

When choosing which primer to prime a plastic bumper on a car, study the reviews of real users. Look for trusted manufacturers. Make sure that the chemical base of the primer (polyacrylates or alkyd resins) matches the composition of the car enamel.

See also: Additive in automatic transmission against kicks: features and rating of the best manufacturers

The color of the product is also important. Transparent materials do not mask the color of the bumper, so more paint will be needed to keep the plastic from showing through. It is good when the colors of the primer and enamel match.

Choose easy-to-use material packaging forms: the easiest way to work with aerosols. Sprays easily penetrate into hard-to-reach places, evenly, without streaks, lay down on the areas to be painted. Spray cans do not require additional equipment, they cost less.

Painting plastic, primer insulator, primer for plastic!!!