New Test Method Significantly Reduces Acid-Etch Cycle Time
BASF and Q-Panel Lab Products have developed an accelerated Florida acid-etch test that they say reduces the time required to test a coating's resistance to acid rain by a factor of 13 to 1. 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 reportedly reproduces long-term acid-etch performance in three weeks rather than a year, the companies said. 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.