Abstract: A process for repairing surface defects in plastic articles, especially plastic articles formed from fiber reinforced thermosetting resins, includes the steps of applying a powder coating composition to a defective area on the surface of a plastic article, curing the applied powder coating composition through the application of heat, and removing excess cured powder coating composition from the area of the defect to conform the area of the defect to the proper contours of the plastic article. The process can be utilized for repairing surface defects such as porosity, scratches, gouges and sand-through areas of cured thermoset substrates such as automotive body panels formed from sheet or bulk molding compounds.

Abstract: A method for achieving a high gloss finish on a compression molded substrate, molded with or without vacuum, in which the substrate includes a hollow filler material and has a specific gravity of not more than 1.4, including the steps of heating at least the surface of the substrate, to a temperature above the melting temperature of a subsequently applied coating powder and applying a first layer of powder to the heated surface, and if necessary, elevating the temperature of the surface and maintaining the temperature of the heated surface above the curing temperature of powder by infrared radiation or by forced heated air for a time period sufficient to cure the powder and then, if desired, subsequently electrostatically applying a second coating to at least a portion of the first film.