2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42
Periodically, there is a need to wipe off a greasy stain from the surface of the car body. In the city, this can only be done at a car wash. However, most often degreasing is required when painting a vehicle. What is it for? Thanks to this procedure, a good adhesion of the body surface to the paintwork is ensured. What and how to degrease should be decided even before the start of all work. It is worth considering that conventional means for such purposes are not always suitable. In addition, when processing surfaces with compositions, it is necessary to take into account some nuances. So how to degrease the surface?
What is it for
Before answering the question of how to degrease the surface before painting, it is worth finding out what it is for. As a rule, the metal is treated with such compositions only to ensure normal adhesion of the material from which the body is made and the paintwork. In some cases, this is simply necessary. In cases where the car is completely repainted, the body must be covered with a layer of a special primer. Degreasing is still required to ensure good adhesion.
Adhesion, in fact, isadhesion of one material to another. In this case, everything happens at the molecular level. If there is a layer of fat between the metal or primer and the paintwork, then their adhesion will be insufficient. Over time, this can affect the appearance of the vehicle. From any vibration, the paintwork will gradually fall off.
What impairs adhesion
Car degreaser removes more than just fat. Dirt, various organics, oily substances of natural origin, and so on - all this reduces the adhesion of materials at the molecular level. In addition, the adhesion is affected by the oxide thin film. It looks like a slight coating of rust on the surface of the body. This film is also recommended to be removed. If it is not possible to completely remove the plaque, then you need to turn it into a stable chemical compound that does not interfere with the adhesion of the metal and the paintwork at the molecular level.
How to degrease the surface before gluing or painting
Most often, White Spirit is used to process the body. However, many confuse this remedy with ordinary kerosene or diesel fuel, since they have almost the same smell. The difference between these substances is very small. Both compounds are a mixture of carbohydrates. Similar liquids are produced by distillation of oil fractions.
Some reference books state that "White Spirit" is a light form of kerosene. It is worth noting that the product dissolves well greasy, bituminous, rubber stains, as well as mastic. ATunlike kerosene, "White Spirit" is easier to wash off the car with ordinary water. Both substances are suitable for degreasing surfaces. At the same time, "White Spirit" is a light compound that partially evaporates, and the remaining part of the product does not harm the coating after painting.
Should I use kerosene
Degreasing a surface is a simple process that can be done at home. The main thing is to choose the right tool. Some professional car wash stations use kerosene, as they use special equipment to process the car body. This allows you to completely remove the substance from the surface, leaving no odor. If degreasing a car is carried out in a garage, then for these purposes it is recommended to use White Spirit or products based on it. It is best to buy compounds that have been hydrotreated. This indicator should be paid special attention, especially if the substance is domestically produced.
Which is not recommended
What can degrease the surface, and what should not be used? Many do not recommend the use of diesel fuel, gasoline and diesel fuel. Of course, they degrease well. However, such substances can be harmful.
Be careful when using numbered solvents such as 645, 646 and so on, as well as acetone. Such substances easily dissolve not only organics, dirt and grease, but also paintwork. It is allowed to treat the body with acetone and solvents only before puttying.
Ifif there are no special products, then you can use a regular solution of vinegar mixed with a few drops of dish detergent.
What is used in the factory
In the factory, sodium carbonate solution (35-50 g/l) or sodium hydroxide solution (90-150 g/l) is used. Such a degreaser for cars should be used with extreme caution. Before starting work, it is recommended to wear gloves, as sodium itself is very caustic. The solution can not only remove fat from the surface of the body, but also corrode the skin on the hands.
Also, alkaline solutions cannot completely remove oil and grease stains. Such compositions have low detergency. It is recommended to use alkali only after it has been heated to 90°C. You can't bring it to a boil. It is worth noting that acidic solutions remove the oxide film well, but do not wash off fat well. So what is the best way to degrease the surface of the body?
Trichlorethylene
In some cases, trichlorethylene or substances that contain it are used to clean the body. However, these tools have their drawbacks. They cannot be applied to aluminum. In production, trichlorethylene is used only for degreasing ferrous metals.
Explosion may occur on contact with aluminum. It is also not recommended to mix trichlorethylene with water, as a sticky and hard-to-remove mass begins to form. More oftenthe whole substance is used not in pure form, but in the form of emulsions. How to degrease the surface should be determined in advance so as not to damage the vehicle body in the future.
Multi-step cleaning
If you do not know how and how to degrease the surface, then you can contact the experts. In the factory, cleaning is carried out in several stages. In this case, degreasing occurs at the first stage. To begin with, the surface of the body is treated with White Spirit. If the metal is corroded in some places, it is recommended to clean it with a mixture of alcohol and phosphoric acid. In this case, it is worth observing the percentage of substances:
- Phosphoric acid + water: 1 to 5. The solution should be between 65 and 75%.
- Isopropyl alcohol - 13 to 18%.
- Ethyl alcohol - from 10 to 14%.
- Emulsifier OP-7 – 0.5%.
- Nitrobenzene - 0.1%.
It is very difficult to make such solutions at home. However, modern technologies allow many manufacturers to produce a certain class of cleaners. They can be used without problems at home. This category of substances is called anti-silicones. It is simply impossible to give general recommendations for their use, since each liquid has its own properties. It is worth noting that many anti-silicones are a mixture of several organic solvents, which have low toxicity. They can be used without fear of harm to he alth. However, from the surface of the body before painting, it is recommendedremove their leftovers.
Recommendations
Now you know how to degrease the surface. Before buying special tools, it is worth considering some of the nuances. Even when using non-hazardous compounds, it is recommended to wear gloves and a mask.
To carry out the degreasing procedure, it is worth using two wipes: one is required to apply the composition, and the second to remove residues.
Processing should be carried out after sanding and only before painting. Parts made of aluminum should be given special attention. After all, not all substances are safe for this metal. It is not recommended to apply the coloring composition immediately to a degreased surface, since the body must warm up to room temperature.
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