Process for repairing coated substrate surfaces

A process for repairing a coated automotive substrate surface comprising the following successive steps:

• a) providing a blemished area to be repaired;
• b) optionally, preparing the blemished area to be repaired;
• c) providing a composite structure consisting of at least one backing film coated on one side with an uncured or only partially cured coating layer of a thermally curable coating composition;
• d) applying the composite structure with its coated side onto the blemished area to be repaired,
• e) supplying thermal energy to the coating applied in this manner onto the blemished area to be repaired by at least one conventional infrared radiation emitter or a near infrared radiation emitter positioned away from the at least one backing film;
• and
• f) removing the at least one backing film;
• wherein the supply of thermal energy onto the coating proceeds through the at least one backing film to the coating layer of the thermally curable coating composition of step c) and whereby the blemished area of the coated automotive substrate is repaired.