Phosphorescent auto paints 

The phosphorescent paint highlights a natural and non-radioactive phenomenon, derived from materials called "rare earths”.

From these components, StardustColors® manufactured bodywork coatings. This has resulted in the creation of the phosphorescent car paint which allows a vehicle to glow at night.

These solvent-based paints are very fluid and therefore only applicable by spray gun. Their rapid evaporation allows the application of a large number of coats.

The areas of application of this revolutionary paint are not limited to the automotive, and extend to design and industry.

Characteristics of a phosphorescent car paint

This is mostly a single-component matt 1K basecoat, rather than a polyurethane lacquer. This ensures fast drying, and therefore a liquid coating which consists of a large number of passes, without risk of sagging. It’s a solvent-based version which offers the advantage of faster evaporation and greater coat fineness. Its very low viscosity makes it perfectly suitable for use with a spray gun or an airbrush.

This phosphorescent car paint has two characteristics: the product is almost colourless during the day and the application must be done on a white surface.

If the paint is applied to a coloured bodywork, the luminosity produced will fall by more than half, while over a dark background, it will result in zero effect.

Luminous coat

The NightGlow paint is the “Automotive” formula as it refers to the chemical formula of bodywork paint. The paint can be applied by spray gun on car, motorcycle, scooter, helmet or all types of objects.

The paint is transparent and slightly yellowish, and contains luminous micro-crystals. It’s a pure layer made of light pigments.

So far there are very few examples of cars painted with phosphorescent paint. The phosphorescent effect is more frequently used on bikes or motorcycles. The effectiveness of its actions depends on sufficient energy recharging and observation in dark conditions.

The persistence

How long does a phosphorescent automotive paint glow in the dark? It depends on several factors: firstly the colour – green, far ahead of all other colours, glows more strongly.

Then, it’s necessary to take into account the ambient luminosity in which the paint will be observed to measure its efficiency: for example, in the city with constant urban lighting, it’s difficult to have total darkness.

We can say that the phosphorescent paints will be visible until 10AM in the total darkness of a forest but that the effect will be quite ineffective in the city center.