Toyota develops eco-friendly car surface treatment agent

TOKYO January 28, 2006; Japan Today reported that Toyota Motor Corp said it has developed a car surface preparation agent, used for priming vehicle bodies before they are painted, that produces far fewer toxic substances and other waste than current agents, with Nihon Parkerizing Co.

Toyota began using the new agent earlier this month in manufacturing subcompact cars including the Corolla and claims that it has the potential to become a chemical of choice for both domestic and foreign carmakers. A surface preparation agent is applied on a car body in order to make the paint better adhere to it as well as to make the paint more resistant to corrosion. Most such chemicals are based on zinc phosphate and produce such toxic by-products as phosphorous and nickel.