E-Coat
E-Coat is the name given to a layer of (usually) black paint which is applied to cars at the factory. If you should need to have a metal panel replaced at a bodyshop, the replacement panel will arrive with a satin black coating, which is the E-Coat.
This coating is applied when the parts, or entire body shell are submerged in a bath of paint, then a current is passed through the parts, attracting the paint onto the substrate in a process called Electrophoretic Coating - hence "E-Coating".
While often called a 'primer', E-Coat is primarily there to be highly resistant to corrosion, similar to galvanization. A primer should be applied over the top to help paint adhesion.
E-Coating isn't really relevant to the subject of polishing your car because if you have a scratch deep enough that you can see the E-Coat, it definitely isn't going to polish out!
Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 20/05/2023 15:43