Do clear-coated cars "lose color" with age/exposure?

[pistonslap8814]

I'll try to clarify my question as clearly as possible here to avoid any confusion.. I'm well aware that for all intensive purposes, clear coated vehicles do not oxidize like single stage paints do, resulting in a loss of pigmentation and gloss. However, with environmental exposure and sunlight/uv rays, heat etc. Does clear coat actually lose some of it's reflective ability (so to speak) resulting in what an observer might perceive as a "loss of color". This phenomenon is relatively common with white vehicles (clear coated) that can take on a marginally "yellow" appearance over the years. I'm also aware of the difference in appearance/gloss/color that a heavily swirled, marred, etched or even dirty paint surface can have on the car's color, but essentially my question is what is responsible for this? I would think this would be essentially the same process that occurs with oxidized plastics and single stage finishes, except occurring on the clear layer(s) of the car's finish, resulting in a different appearance of the vehicle's color.

Also, in the hypothetical scenario where all bonded contaminants were removed and the surface was virtually optically perfect, would the finish appear identical (in APPEARANCE of color) to a ideal 'brand new' factory copy of the identical vehicle?

Hopefully I made some sense here..

[Marc08EX]

Re: Do clear-coated cars "lose color" with age/exposure?

I think you're talking about oxidation... Yes clear coats oxidize especially if you don't take car of them.

Bonded contaminants are just a small part of the story. Yes removing heavy bonded contaminants will improve the reflection of the paint but you need to remove all the surface defects such as swirls, RIDS, and oxidation in order to create an optically perfect paint surface.

[pistonslap8814]

So, a perceived "loss of color" would be attributed to oxidation.. I had always heard that clear coats didn't oxidize, but that never quite made any sense to me. Thanks for the clarification. Yes, what I meant was an appearance of difference of color/richness/loss of gloss or "fading" not due to other paint work defects or dirt/embedded contamination.

[TOGWT]

Re: Do clear-coated cars "lose color" with age/exposure?

Oxidation is the result of the paint molecules drying out, hence the powdery look; it is also a