Infrared spectra of North American automobile original finishes. XIV: Identification of Naphthol Red (C.I. Pigment Red 170) in finish layers and in color-coordinated primers.

The naphthol reds are a family of intermediate performance monoazo organic pigments and three of its members, C.I. Pigment Red 148, C.I. Pigment Red 170 (Naphthol Red), and C.I. Pigment Red 188, have been cited as having original automotive paint applications. This study sought to determine which were used in North American vehicle original finishes (1974 to 2019) and how they can be differentiated and identified in situ in paint infrared spectra. Naphthol Red was the only such pigment found and based on a comprehensive survey, absorptions of this pigment were identified in spectra of 12 of the 373 (3%) red or maroon nonmetallic original finishes examined. Identification of Naphthol Red in an unknown finish can thus serve to limit the number of possible source vehicles and spectra of the twelve are presented to facilitate this examination, along with a list of the vehicles that the twelve were used on. For a comparative analysis, identification of this pigment in questioned and known specimens may provide some means of assessing the significance of the finding. Two Inmont red nonmetallic acrylic melamine basecoats, one of which contains Naphthol Red, were found to have quite unusual infrared spectra that are readily distinguished from those of the other 371 finishes examined, and they are discussed. Naphthol Red was also identified in some color-coordinated automotive paint primers and its use appears to be more common in these than in the finish layers.

Infrared spectra of U.S. automobile original finishes (1998-2000). IX. identification of bismuth oxychloride and silver/white mica pearlescent pigments using extended range FT-IR spectroscopy, XRF spectrometry, and SEM/EDS analysis.

Bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) was the first viable synthetic pearl pigment developed 50 years ago. It was only used for a limited time period in automotive paint (model years 1998-2000), serving to produce luster for a single Chrysler black metallic color. Identification of this pigment in an unknown automotive paint can thus facilitate determination of the vehicle of origin. Bismuth oxychloride imparts effects similar to those produced by silver/white mica pearlescent pigments, and such a pigment was used together with bismuth oxychloride in at least one original equipment manufacturer (OEM) basecoat. Silver/white micas are now used primarily in white pearl tricoat systems. This article describes the identification of bismuth oxychloride and silver/white mica pearlescent pigments in automotive finishes using FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry, and SEM/EDS analysis. Data for some cadmium pigments, which were used in automotive paint several decades ago, are also presented as they produce infrared absorptions similar to that of bismuth oxychloride.

Infrared spectra of U.S. automobile original finishes (post - 1989). VIII: In situ identification of bismuth vanadate using extended range FT-IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.

Chrome Yellow (PbCrO4 ·xPbSO4 ) was a common pigment in U.S. automobile OEM finishes for more than three decades, but in the early 1990s its use was discontinued. One of its main replacements was Bismuth Vanadate (BiVO4 ·nBi2 MoO6 , n = 0-2), which was commercially introduced in 1985, as this inorganic pigment also produces a very bright hue and has excellent outdoor durability. This paper describes the in situ identification of Bismuth Vanadate in automotive finishes using FT-IR and dispersive Raman spectroscopy and XRF spectrometry. Some differentiation of commercial formulations of this pigment is possible based on far-infrared absorptions, Raman data, and elemental analysis. The spectral differences arise from the presence or absence of molybdenum, the use of two crystal polymorphs of BiVO4 , and differences in pigment stabilizers. Bismuth Vanadate is usually not used alone, and it is typically found with Isoindoline Yellow, hydrous ferric oxide, rutile, Isoindolinone Yellow 3R, or various combinations of these.

Infrared spectra of U.S. automobile original finishes. VII. Extended range FT-IR and XRF analyses of inorganic pigments in situ--nickel titanate and chrome titanate.

The identification, analysis, and occurrence in U.S. automobile original finishes (1974-1989) of Nickel Titanate (yellow) and Chrome Titanate (yellow-orange) are described in this report. The titanate pigments are based on the rutile (titanium dioxide) structure and there are only minor differences between the infrared absorptions of rutile and the titanates. Titanate pigment absorptions in paint spectra can thus be easily mistaken for those of rutile. Each of the titanates, however, contains two elements in addition to titanium that can serve to distinguish them using elemental analyses. Fourier transform infrared (4000-220 cm(-1)) and X-ray fluorescence instruments were used in combination for the in situ analysis of the titanates. In addition to titanium, nickel, and antimony, the three main detectable elements comprising Nickel Titanate, all of the commercial products of this pigment that were examined also contained impurities of zirconium, niobium, and usually lead. These elements were also detected in most of the monocoats in which Nickel Titanate was identified, as well as in the Chrome Titanate pigments, and the zirconium to niobium ratio was found to exhibit a wide variation. Nickel Titanate is a relatively common pigment that was identified in nearly three dozen U.S. automobile yellow nonmetallic monocoats (1974-1989), while Chrome Titanate appears to have been used in only a few yellow and orange nonmetallic monocoats. The use of the titanate pigments likely increased after this time period as they were replacements for lead chromate pigments (last used in a U.S. automobile original finish in the early 1990s), and are more amenable for use in basecoat/clearcoat finishes than in monocoats. Minor distortions of the infrared absorptions of rutile, anatase, and the titanates obtained using accessories with diamond windows were noted, and their origins are discussed.