Mazda Receieves a 2011 JILL Award For Eco-Friendly Paint

Two researchers from Mazda Motor Co have received the 2011 “Japan Business Federation Chairman’s Award for Invention” from the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation (JILL). The award is meant to recognize outstanding inventions that make a significant contribution to the advancement of science and technology.

The award was for the invention of a new paint technology called the Three-Layer Wet Paint System. The system is a one-step baking and drying coating method that applies three layers of paint in succession, without drying in between. Compared to other painting systems, VOC emissions from the paint shop are reduced 45% and CO₂ emissions are reduced 15%.

The reduction in emissions is achieved be the development of new low-solvent paint. In general, lowering the solvent in paint raises its viscosity, making it unsuitable for coating. To keep the necessary viscosity, Mazda researchers reduced the size of the paint molecules.

Since its development in 2002, Mazda has introduced the system all over the world. The coating method has spread throughout the automotive industry and become a norm.