Acid Rain ? Car Paint ?
Acid rain, already blamed for killing lakes and trees, has found another target — the paint of some late-model cars.
The problem is a result of both increasing pollution and the widespread use in recent years of a high-gloss car paint technology known as clear coat. The finish, which creates a mirrorlike sheen, is used on most cars today. Auto producers and paint companies say the finish is particularly susceptible to marring by acid rain and other pollutants.
The scope of the paint problem is unclear. But spokesmen for the Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, the Chrysler Corporation and Honda Motor Company all said that acid rain was posing a problem. At the same time, they all declined to release data concerning recent warranty claims for pollution-related paint damage.
Acid rain is largely created when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are discharged by factories and power plants. The compounds turn into sulfuric acid and nitric acid in the atmosphere and can travel hundreds of miles before they fall to earth as rain or snow.
When acid rain falls on a vehicle, the moisture evaporates but the acid remains. Concentrated by sunlight, the sulfuric acid can become so strong that it will eat through or etch a car’s finish.
How can you stop acid rain?
The automotive world was introduced to the power of quartz or ceramic coatings in the early 2000s. Initially, this durable polymer or synthetic created product was a professionally applied solution, that could only be installed by certified detailers. The reason was simple, professional-grade ceramic coatings were very difficult to install, as it applied a smooth surface with very little opportunity for problems.
There are some that offer lifetime warranty and others that are applied and wipe away that can last only a few years. The window of coated application temperature, time, and other variables for professional protection product make it quite difficult to apply correctly. The main ingredient is silicon dioxide or SIO2.
However, in recent years, many manufacturers have created DIY ceramic coatings, that are engineered for simplicity of application. They provide a surface tension or a hard shell of protection that blocks exposure to UV Rays, bird shit, bug splatters, and other contaminants — even acid rain. It also delivers a deep gloss finish, can be used on a windshield and can reduce scratching.
Enjoy your rainy day :)
