What do surfaces degrease with? How can I degrease the surface of the car before painting?

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

When you need to paint a fence or a metal pipe, it does not matter at all how and by what means this work will be done. But it's a completely different matter when it comes to cars. It is very important for each owner in the process of painting the body that the result is of the highest quality. Therefore, one cannot do without the use of special means.

The first step before painting is pre-treatment of the body. During these works, old paint is removed from the car. Then the metal must be degreased, and then motorists face problems. Let's try to figure out how surfaces are degreased on modern cars and how to do it correctly in order to get the highest quality result.

What funds exist

Often, to combat the greasy film that is on the body, motorists in the old fashioned way use lint-freewipes treated with any solvent. Experts do not recommend performing this procedure in this way. This option is only suitable when it is necessary to process only a small area. If you look at the range of preparations for preparatory work before painting, which are produced today, you can select several tools that degrease metal surfaces. These are various solvents and substances of organic origin, emulsions, as well as special solutions, which include synthetic detergent additives.

Experts recommend using the latter. These drugs successfully and confidently defeat not only the greasy film, but also fight dirt and the effects of corrosion no less effectively.

White spirit

One of these organic solvents is the well-known white spirit. It is used at the initial stage of body processing. Then, in more subtle steps, a mixture of alcohol with phosphoric acid is used. Such a solution will thoroughly wash away traces of grease from the metal surface. But there are other drugs than you can degrease the surface of the car. One such agent is trichlorethylene. This is the most famous representative of the group of organic solvents. It enters into an active reaction upon contact with aluminum bodies. At the same time, flammable substances are released during the reaction, which increase the risk of fire in case of accidents. It is highly discouraged to use it.

If trichloethylene reacts with water, then a sticky mass will form on the body, which is not so easy to remove. If there is no other option than to degrease the surface of the car, then this drug will do. But it only works when there is no moisture on the coating.

Special preparations for processing

Professionals who have been painting cars for a long time know and recommend the use of special products - they do not cause fires, and also do not emit any chemical compounds harmful to humans.

But beginners often ignore the advice and allegedly "know" the best way to degrease the surface of the car. Often kerosene, gasoline, acetone and even diesel fuel are used for this. In fact, all of the above can only be used when the nearest auto cosmetics store is about 100 km away.

Gasoline, diesel, acetone as an alternative to white spirit

People who have never done pre-paint work before often confuse mineral spirits with other substances such as gasoline, kerosene and diesel oil - all of these liquids are very similar in smell.

But the functional difference between them is small. They are mixtures of hydrocarbons that are produced by distillation of oil fractions. All substances perfectly dissolve various mastics, bitumen stains or fats. But diesel and kerosene are very difficult to wash off, although in principle fordegreasing they are suitable. Professional car washes use kerosene, but they use specialized equipment that makes it easy to remove traces of substances and odors. In garage conditions, processing in this way will be harmful. Acetone can be used with extreme caution, as well as solvents No. 646 or 645.

Antisilicon

Anti-silicone, which degreases surfaces, is considered the best choice for all ordinary motorists who decide to prepare the body for painting with their own hands. With the help of these tools, you can not only remove greasy films from the surface. Anti-silicone is suitable for cleaning dirt and dust.

The use of these funds is also optimal when only local body painting is planned. In addition to showing an excellent degreasing effect, it also does not attack metal or old paint.

Antistatic

How to degrease a plastic surface? Antistatic will be as safe as possible. The fact is that plastic has the properties of electrification and attracts dust. This can be a headache for the owner - in such conditions it is very difficult to remove the fatty film. With the help of antistatic, this problem is solved very quickly and effectively. The composition will perfectly remove grease and dust.

Alkaline-based products

This is another group of preparations that degrease surfaces during painting. Under these means, detergent compositions known to everyone, in which there are alkalis, are hidden. They help not onlyhigh efficiency to perform degreasing, but also easily remove various contaminants. But alkaline preparations should be used with caution. When the treatment is completed, it is better to put the car in a closed, clean and dry room, where the body can dry well. In most of these mixtures, in addition to alkalis, various emulsifiers can be found. These substances interact with fatty foods at temperatures above 60 degrees. After the composition dries, the greasy film will remain on the metal - after that it can be easily removed.

If the car owner decides to deal with fatty films in this way, it is important to prevent strong foaming. Foam bubbles will not be able to provide suitable conditions for triggering interaction with fats. There will be no desired effect.

Electrochemical processing methods

This is another option for degreasing the surface before painting. However, it is not suitable for those who own a garage or home workshop. This process will require industrial frequency electricity. An important point is polarity. It is determined by the type of metal. The anode will be connected for steel degreasing, and the cathode will be used for non-ferrous metals.

Multi-stage cleaning

First of all, the bodywork is treated with white spirit. What should I do if there are signs of corrosion on the surface? In this case, it is necessary to treat the surface using phosphoric acid with alcohols. This composition is a mixture of ethylalcohol in a ratio of 15%. Part of the water and phosphoric acid are also mixed in a ratio of 1 to 5. Additionally, an emulsifier is used - wetting agent OP-7 in an amount of 0.5%. You also need 0.1% nitrobenzene. It is rather difficult to obtain this mixture at home - some substances are not commercially available. It is also worth remembering that the composition is dangerous to he alth.

CV

When answering the question of how to degrease the surface of a car, some parameters should be taken into account - the effectiveness of the product, its price and economy. The ideal option is one that satisfies all these requirements, but it is very difficult to find something similar on sale. In addition to all these factors, it is necessary to take into account the harm that the product will have on the metal or on human he alth. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain maximum information about the drug. It will not be superfluous to buy protective equipment for the respiratory tract - masks and respirators.