Terahertz Sensor for Noncontact and Non-destructive Inspection of Automotive Paints

Editorial The application of paint to a car body can be a complicated process. Expensive auto body paint is usually applied in four layered stages and often includes clear coat, primer and base coats as well as electro coat layers. The result of these successive paint layers is a surface that exhibits complex light interactions, giving the car a smooth, glossy and sparkly finish. More importantly, these paint layers not only provide appealing color effects, but also have important functions such as rust prevention and waterproofing. It is hence of great interest to characterize car paint properties including thickness and uniformity for the purpose of quality control and quality assurance.