Staying current with new innovations and manufacturers’ trends can be a complicated task. During collision repairers’ busy day, they may be unaware of the technological developments that have been incorporated into the vehicles brought to their shops for repairs.
Accessing procedures and new developments prior to repairs and repair planning is critical when servicing these vehicles and streamlining production processes.
One technological development recently introduced by Infiniti is Scratch Shield, a “self-healing clearcoat that can smooth out minor scratches and swirl marks.” Infiniti claims it will maintain gloss for the entire life of the vehicle.
This article provides Infiniti’s service procedure regarding Scratch Shield and a list of authorized paint manufacturers. Each paint manufacturer has specific processes when applying this material. Please refer to the paint manufacturer’s procedure when applying their product.
Service Procedure
Always refer to ALLDATA Collision for safety procedures, identification of material types, recommended refinish materials, removal and installation procedures. Always refer to Infiniti for questions relating to applicable or non-applicable warranty repair information.
Scratch Shield “heals” minor scratches in the clearcoat. If the scratch reaches the basecoat, it will not “heal.” Scratch Shield will be implemented for the first time in the United States with the EX35.
CAUTION: Read and follow all of the instructions from the manufacturer’s line of painting materials, equipment and protective gear.
NOTE: If your paint system supplier doesn’t have Infiniti-approved Scratch Shield refinish products, specific technical advice can be obtained from the local distributor of the listed paint suppliers. If your paint supplier is not approved and you need to obtain refinish materials from one of the approved vendors, you’ll also need to purchase the necessary primers, reducers, hardeners and basecoat from that distributor. Current refinish materials are designed to work as a system, and products from different vendors should not be mixed together.
Authorized Paint Suppliers
Infiniti is working with paint vendors to develop approved materials and procedures for proper refinishing of vehicles with Scratch Shield.
To ensure proper color matching, adhesion and long-term wear characteristics, vehicles needing paint refinish work must be refinished with products that have been tested and approved by Infiniti.
The refinish paint manufacturers that have provided materials and procedures that meet Infiniti requirements at the time of this publication are listed in Table 1.
Service Procedure
When repairing a panel with the Scratch Shield refinish products, follow the guidelines below.
- Edge-to-Edge refinish for clearcoat is recommended.
- Acceptable blending could occur in an out-of-sight area (e.g., rocker area) and the upper portion of the quarter sail area (junction of roof and quarter panel) as part of a full quarter panel refinish. Thoroughly dry the blending part before polishing.
- Polish the refinished area as recommended by the paint supplier.
© 2008 ALLDATA LLC. All rights reserved. All technical information, images and specifications are from the ALLDATA Product. ALLDATA is a registered trademark and ALLDATA Collision is a mark of ALLDATA LLC. All other marks are the property of their respective holders. Infiniti and EX35 are registered trademarks of the Infiniti/Nissan Motor Company and are being used solely for reference and application purposes.
Technical Info/Material Availability
For specific technical advice or Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), or if you have any difficulty obtaining refinish materials, the paint suppliers can be contacted directly at the numbers listed in Table 2.
Dan Espersen is the ALLDATA Collision Program Manager. He’s I-CAR Platinum Certified and a Gold Pin Member of the Collision Industry Conference (CIC), and holds an AA Degree in Automotive Technology. He has 15 years of experience in the collision industry and 17 years of experience in the automotive industry.
