New Test Method Reported to Reduce Acid-Etch Cycle Time
SOUTHFIELD, MI -- BASF and Q-Panel Lab Products have developed an accelerated Florida acid-etch test method that is reported to reduce the time required to test a coating’s resistance to acid rain by a factor of 13 to1.
The companies said the test method was developed in response to the automotive industry’s need for decreased cycle times and increased testing throughput. A patent is pending for the new process, which is reported to reproduce long-term acid-etch performance in three weeks rather than a year. Acid etch, caused most commonly by rain, refers to the damage to a vehicle’s finish that looks like water spots and cannot be removed by washing or waxing.