Environmental Damage
Any new vehicle that is awaiting transportation, shipped by rail or road transportation or awaiting sale on a dealership lot is subjected to environmental damage. They come in a varied range of threats; acid rain, industrial fallout, brake and rail dust, road salt, tree sap, hydrazine an extremely active acid that is found in jet fuel, ultra violet (UV) and heat radiation, and other airborne contaminants are very detrimental to a vehicle's paint film surface.
They are all forms of environmental contamination and given the right catalyst; reactivity (heat) plus moisture, they will become acidic. During this process, the metal absorbs oxygen from the water and forms iron oxide (rust). Given the porosity of paint, they permeate the paint matrix down to body metal.
Acidic Contaminants Identification
Ferrous Metal -
· Light colored vehicles: Small rust orange dots with black in centre of the stain.
· Dark colored vehicles: Small white or silver dots with a "rainbow hue" around the particle. The surface will also feel rough to the touch (See also ‘Bag Test’).
Industrial Fallout
· The surface feels rough to the touch and may exhibit crystalline deposits.
· Usually ferrous metal is present, as well as water spots.
Acid Rain
· Surface will exhibit irregular discolored spotting.
· Dark colored vehicles will show cloudy or grey spots where the acids have started to etch the paint.
Reactivity
[: acceleration of a chemical reaction by a catalyst]
Be cognizant that an acid is inert until it comes into contact with moisture; any chemical attacking a surface, the temperature will dictate reactivity (acceleration of a chemical reaction by a catalyst [moisture and heat]. The more heat and moisture that is present (in the form of high humidity, dew and etc.) the more aggressive the acid becomes.
Then you have; an acid + water +oxygen + ozone all of which forms an acidic oxygen molecule that causes a concave indentation (acid etching) to the paint surface it should be noted that until this acid is neutralised subsequent moisture and heat will reactivate the acid and allow further damage, as acid requires an alkaline to neutralize it
Automotive Paint Systems
Automotive coating technology is becoming more and more complex requiring educated and skilled technicians to work on them. As the materials used are constantly changing we must maintain our knowledge base and adapt our methodologies to keep up with emerging technologies.
Worldwide, approximately 80% of all passenger cars are coated with 1K clear coats and the remainder with 2K clear coats. The 1K clear coats are subdivided into solvent-based acrylic melamine systems; clear coats with enhanced surface etch resistance, high solid-systems, water-based systems and powder versions. The 2K clear coats include solvent-based, super high-solids and water-based versions.
A paint resin system comprises a binder, which as its name implies holds the paint molecules and various other components (additives} together and a film former, which creates a dense surface. Various solvents are used, one as a carrier system, one holds the paint together and the final solvent that evens out the paint to create a smooth, glossy surface (this solvent has the most bearing on the ripple effect (orange peel). These solvents are responsible for the paints density (hard or soft) the paint becomes,
Water-based automotive paint - are essentially low solids paints (up to 60% waterborne solvent), but they are legal because de-ionized water is used as the solvent, as opposed to volatile organic compounds (VOC).in reality, water-based (waterborne) automotive paint finishing is actually not that new; PPG water-based paint has been used by some OEMs since the early 1990s
Switching to waterborne from solvent-based automotive refinishing paints is becoming more popular in the U.S. for health and environmental reasons, as well as stricter environmental regulations in California and Canada. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and collision repair shops in Europe and some OEMs in the United States already use waterborne paints extensively
Clear coat paint - especially water-based paint, which are essentially low solids paints (up to 60% waterborne solvent), but they are legal because de-ionized water is used as the solvent, as opposed to volatile organic compounds (VOC), they are a lot more porous than we like to think.
Vehicle manufacturer studies have shown that failure to remove environmental contaminants (like embedded rail dust, acid rain, industrial fallout and other environmental contaminants) from paint film can cause premature degradation of the paint system. While clay products are useful for overspray, they cannot deep clean the surface and pores of the paint. This can only be accomplished through a thorough chemical cleaning and acid neutralization.
Paint decontamination systems were developed as a method of removing ferrous contamination beyond what can be removed by washing or claying alone. The only way to completely remove sintered (heat fused) ferrous iron particles is with a dedicated decontamination system that opens up the paint's micro pores to release iron particles and to neutralize the caustic compounds that have developed as a result of the particle. In one step, you can eliminate both the cause and its effects. Ongoing damage is immediately stopped and future damage is prevented by completely removing the ferrous particles.
Airborne chemical compounds and ferrous particles - particles containing iron - actually penetrate the paint and create corrosive compounds that eat deep into the paint's sub-layers or paint’s pin-holes. This is a gradual process that often is not evident until it's too late.
Claying or polishing only removes the particle, not its effects, which are continuing to spread beneath the surface. During the use of your vehicle, brake dust and road grime become sintered to the surface of the car paint, rims and wheels due to the high-temperature conditions they are normally exposed. Brake dust contains high levels of iron and once sintered to the rim, becomes extremely difficult to dissolve or remove without the use of harsh chemicals.
Thermodynamics [: exothermic describes a process or reaction that releases energy from the system to its surroundings, usually in the form of heat]
Neutralized Acid Decontamination (FerreX, IronX, and etc) This is a highly effective, acid-free and pH corrected (pH 6.0) paint surface and glass cleaner (safe for all painted surfaces including aluminium and alloys).An exothermic reaction opens up the paint's pores to release ferrous particles and to neutralize caustic compounds that have developed in the paint's subsurface. Ongoing damage is immediately stopped and future damage is prevented by removing the ferrous particulates
As the cleansing liquid begins to work into the dirt and grime, the formula begins to turn purple/ red. The purple/red coloration is the product forming a bond to the sintered iron on the car paint and wheel and changing its state to a water soluble complex for easy removal. Stubborn, baked on grime may take a small amount of agitation. Rinse car paint and wheels thoroughly with a power washer and wipe dry.
Application
1. Wash the paint surface with a concentrate
2. Rinse the surface thoroughly with clean water, power wash or hose
3. Pour a few small drops of soap gel onto a wet sponge, and wash the surface.
4. While agitating the surface, the soap gel will start to change colour when it comes into contact with metallic particles
5. Rinse the surface thoroughly with clean water
6. Dry the paint surface
Average consumption per complete car: 0.5 - 1 fluid oz (20 - 30ml) per car
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