1. How does ULTRA EVER DRY work?
The
bottom coat bonds to most materials and acts as a primer. It provides a
consistent material for the top coat to bond to while interacting with the
top coat to self-assemble the surface, creating finely textured geometry.
This surface is comprised of patterns of geometric shapes and billions of
interstitial spaces. There are "high points" in the surface that help to
create a low surface energy, which causes droplets of water to touch a very
small percentage of the coating. The water in the droplet that does not
touch these "high points" is held together by intermolecular cohesive forces
of the water molecules. It is the combination of these elements that allow
ULTRA EVER DRY to be superhydrophobic and oleophobic for some, but not all,
oil-based liquids.
2. What do the terms
"superhydrophobic" and "oleophobic" mean?
ULTRA EVER DRY surface
protection coating creates a solid/liquid contact angle of 160-175 degrees
in air. Well-known windshield water repellents have a contact angle closer
to 110 degrees and are only hydrophobic. A superhydrophobic contact angle
allows for the self-cleaning properties associated with ULTRA EVER DRY.
Oleophobicity refers to the ability to repel some, but not all, oil-based
liquids (which have values of surface tension less than that of water).
Unfortunately, oleophobicity is not an absolute term, as many oils have
broad ranges of surface tension which may straddle the limit of the
effective range of ULTRA EVER DRY. For many oils, testing is required to
determine if the specific oil or grade of oil will be repelled by ULTRA EVER
DRY.
3. How long will ULTRA EVER DRY
coating last?
The ULTRA EVER DRY formula is susceptible to
environmental conditions such as UV. This coating will offer approximately
one year of outdoor life before recoating of the top coat would be required.
When used in indoor or covered applications outdoors, the coating should
last for a year or more. If the top coat has diminished due to environmental
conditions, simply reapply the top coat to regain the superhydrophobic
properties (assuming the bottom coat is still present). ULTRA EVER DRY
coating is also susceptible to abrasion.
4. What is the working temperature range for ULTRA EVER DRY?
The
working temperature range for a coated surface is from -34°C to 149°C once
it has been applied. We would recommend further testing for any application
that will be exposed to temperatures above 149 °C. The coating should be
applied at temperatures between 10°C to 32°C.
5. What materials will the ULTRA EVER DRY coating
adhere or bond to?
Please note that the coating has a hazy
translucent white appearance. Almost any material is a candidate for
application: steel, aluminum, other metals, plastic, leather, fabric, wood,
concrete, etc. The coating can be applied to and will bond to smooth
surfaces. Preparing an already cleaned surface with heavy-duty scotch brite
and/or sanding the surface with 320-800 grit sandpaper will improve
adhesion. ULTRA EVER DRY is not recommended for use on acrylics due to the
high solvent content.
6. How
abrasion-resistant is ULTRA EVER DRY?
ULTRA EVER DRY surface
protection is significantly more abrasion resistant than previous
superhydrophobic materials, registering a result of 30 cycles with a CS-10
wheel and 1000g load on the Taber Abraser before droplets no longer roll off
the coating at a slope of 5 degrees from horizontal. The coating may still
be superhydrophobic at this point, but droplets may "pin" or stick in the
abraded area, and may not roll off until the substrate is tilted to a
greater degree. If abrasion is a concern, testing is recommended. If the
coating is removed due to repeated or severe abrasion, it can be reapplied.
7. Will the coating still work if the top
coat is largely removed due to abrasion?
Perhaps. In many
situations, the superhydrophobic nature of the material may be diminished
but the remaining top coat and bottom coat still provide the functionality
of keeping the coated material from getting wet, iced up or corroding. This
is application dependent.
8. What color is
the surface coating?
The standard product is a hazy translucent
white. We do not have a transparent formula at this time. Custom colors are
not available at this time. It is recommended to try the coating in an
inconspicuous area first if color is important.
9. How many square meters can a
liter cover?
6 square meters at a dry film
thickness of 13 microns.
10. How long does
ULTRA EVER DRY take to cure?
Bottom Coat: Allow 30-60 minutes of
dry time before applying top coat. A heat gun / blow dryer may be used on a
low setting to decrease dry time.
Top Coat: The coating
will become superhydrophobic within 15-30 minutes of the top coat
application. Allow 2 hours of additional dry time for good results.
For
best results, including optimum oleophobicity, allow the bottom coat to dry
for at least 1 hour and allow the top coat to dry overnight.
11. What is the shelf life of ULTRA EVER DRY and
what temperature should it be stored at?
Typically, shelf life of
the product will be two years when stored between 4°C and 40°C.
12. Does UV affect ULTRA EVER DRY?
ULTRA EVER DRY coating is adversely affected by ultraviolet (UV) light,
reducing its useful life. Additional ULTRA EVER DRY formulas are being
developed to reduce the effect of UV light.
13. How chemically resistant is ULTRA EVER DRY?
As with most materials and coatings, this will depend on the chemical. In
general, it is resistant to a wide range including many water-based acids
and bases. It may or may not be compatible with oil-based liquids, since
these substances have varying values of surface tension, and liquids with
low values of surface tension are not compatible with ULTRA EVER DRY.
Testing may be required to ensure proper compatibility. ULTRA EVER DRY
surface protection will not work organic solvents including, but not limited
to: acetone, xylene, t-butyl acetate, naphtha, MEK, etc.
14. What known chemicals are incompatible ULTRA
EVER DRY coating?
Soaps and detergents will cause the surface of
the coating to "wet-out". Once these chemicals are removed (using low
pressure water), the superhydrophobicity will generally return. Alcohols and
solvents will dissolve/remove the coating.
15. How well does ULTRA EVER DRY stand-up to
acids/bases?
Strong acids and bases are typically not a problem.
Testing has been completed with sulfuric, hydrochloric, and phosphoric acid
with excellent results. We have also seen good results shedding strong
caustic and some bleach solutions.
16.
Will ULTRA EVER DRY help prevent corrosion?
Yes, ULTRA EVER DRY
surface protection coating is corrosion resistant. Increasing the bottom
coat thickness will increase longevity. Applying ULTRA EVER DRY on top of
existing painted surfaces, polyurethane coatings or other treated surfaces
will increase the effectiveness and longevity of the pre-existing treatment.
17. How is ULTRA EVER DRY coating applied?
ULTRA EVER DRY surface protection coating is best applied using a spray
method, either with traditional air-compressor driven HVLP paint sprayers or
airbrush paint sprayers. NOTE: Both parts (top and bottom coat) are required
for all applications of ULTRA EVER DRY. We do not have data showing
consistent results with other coating methods at this time.
NOTE: With
all sprayer options, it is important to adjust the volume to allow ULTRA
EVER DRY to be applied in a fine mist.
HVLP Spray Gun:
For medium/large jobs. Use Warwick 881H or similar, 1.7 mm needle/nozzle
set. Air conditions: cool, dry, 40-45 psi line pressure, 24-28 psi working
pressure. Create a fine mist.
Airbrush: For small jobs.
Use Iwata NEO BCN or similar, tip size ≥ 0.5 mm. Air conditions: cool, dry,
10-60 psi working pressure. Create a fine mist.
See specific sprayer
manufacturer instructions for safe and proper usage.
18. Is it electrically conductive?
No,
it is not electrically conductive. It can be safely used to coat electric
motors, switches, electrical components, electronic subjected to the
elements, light fixtures, etc.
19. What
does this product do to the transmission of air through a material?
The passing of air through the coating is dependent on the substrate. There
are surfaces where the coating can act as a liquid repellent under low
pressures, but allows for the permeation of gases or vapor. If the bottom
coat is applied too thick and makes a continuous film across the pores of
the substrate, then air transmission will be diminished.
20. Is ULTRA EVER DRY surface protection coating
flammable when it is dry?
Polymer binders do not offer
flammability resistance as polymers are carbon-based molecules and therefore
will eventually burn or melt. Please note, however, that the dry coating
thicknesses are generally only about 25 microns. We expect the overall
flammability will be determined by the article being coated. We advise
application-specific testing if flammability is a concern.
21. If ULTRA EVER DRY is applied to fabrics, will
it wash off?
Yes, after few washes and in some cases after a
single wash.
22. Do you recommend using
ULTRA EVER DRY inside of a pipe with constantly flowing liquid?
No, this is not a good application, unless the fluid is slow-moving (laminar
flow). In most cases, the liquid flowing through piping will be turbulent,
causing ULTRA EVER DRY surface protection to abrade away.
23. It seems like the ULTRA EVER DRY coating is
rubbing off onto my hands. Is that normal?
The whitish coating
that comes off in your hands if you rub it is excess top coat particles that
did not bond to on the bottom coat. NOTE: Due to the natural oils in the
skin, excessive handling with bare hands of treated materials can cause a
reduction in performance.
24. What is the
return policy for ULTRA EVER DRY coating?
All sales are final. We
are unable to accept returns on the product because of the shelf life (2
years). ULTRA EVER DRY is stamped with a “best by” date and because of that,
returns are not practical.
25. Is ULTRA
EVER DRY coating comprised of, or is it produced using, Ozone Depleting
Substances (as defined in the Kyoto Protocol and listed in Annex A of the
Montreal Protocol, as amended)?
No, ULTRA EVER DRY is not produced
using any Ozone Depleting Substances (as defined in the Kyoto Protocol or
listed in Annex A of the Montreal Protocol, as amended.
26.How does ULTRA EVER DRY coating work against
with crude (natural, organic oils)?
ULTRA EVER DRY surface
protection generally does not have good resistance to crude oil. This is
mainly due to the solvents in the crude oil which actually dissolve ULTRA
EVER DRY.
27. Does the ULTRA EVER DRY
prevent powder accumulation on metal walls?
If there is no water
or other liquid available to clean the coating, then the coating is not
effective. It is not smooth or slick, it is actually a rough surface and may
actually end up holding more powder in this application.
28. Is silicone one of the ingredients in the
ULTRA EVER DRY product?
There is no silicone, but there is a
non-crystalline, fumed silica in the Top Coat (it is listed on the Safety
Data Sheet).
29. Is the proprietary
additive toxic?
All proprietary ingredients are non-hazardous.
30. What is the NFPA and HMIS information for
ULTRA EVER DRY surface protection coating?
For the bottom
coat:· HMIS: Flammability 3 /health 1 /hazard 0 /personal
protection ratings H
· NFPA: Flammability (Red) 3 /health (Blue) 1
/hazard (yellow) 0 / Special (white) empty
For the acetone top
coat:· HMIS: Flammability 3 /health 2 /hazard 0 /personal
protection ratings H
·
NFPA: Flammability (Red) 3 /health (Blue) 2 /hazard (yellow) 0 / Special
(white) empty
31. Can I use ULTRA EVER DRY
on my car?
Our product can be used on cars but we recommend only
using it underneath the vehicle. It is not recommended for use on body
panels or windows/windshields because of the translucent white color (
Click
here to see a glass pane treated with ULTRA EVER DRY). It is recommended
to try the ULTRA EVER DRY in an inconspicuous area first if color is
important. It will cover a gloss paint with a dull, matte finish. Some
exceptions to this recommendation is using ULTRA EVER DRY on work vehicles
such as cement trucks or off-road vehicles where aesthetics are not as
important as cleanliness, anti-corrosion, anti-icing and maintenance.
32. Can ULTRA EVER DRY surface protection
coating be used to prevent graffiti?
Surfaces coated with ULTRA EVER DRY
will not prevent oil-based paints from being applied, due to the solvents in
the formulas. It has been shown to be somewhat effective with water-based
paints however the majority of spray paints are oil-based.
33. Can I spray this on the bottom of my boat?
We do not recommend applying ULTRA EVER DRY surface protection coating to
the bottom of a boat or ship. The flow is quite often turbulent in these
areas, and this high energy (and high velocity) flow can damage and/or
remove the coating. ULTRA EVER DRY may have potential on slower-moving and
less turbulent applications, such as the bottoms of canoes or kayaks, but we
do not have data for these applications yet.
34. Can I use ULTRA EVER DRY on my skis,
snowboard or surfboard?
We have not had the opportunity to test
Ever Dry for these applications.
35. Will
spraying ULTRA EVER DRY on my phone make it waterproof?ULTRA EVER
DRY does protect electric connections from water and moisture and is
non-conductive, but ULTRA EVER DRY is not clear. It dries to a translucent
white color, so we cannot recommend spraying phones with it.