truckbutt
07-28-2012, 04:45 PM
The question about whether or not you can apply a sealant over a wax repeatedly comes up. Some say no and others say yes. I always thought that it makes the most sense to start clean for the best bonding. The answer seems to be, it depends on the wax.
http://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia-detailing-####/136993-chemical-bonding-polymers-etc.html
Polymer Sealants
"Since urethane clear coat paint is both a polymer and has porosity, a durable bond is formed and provides the intended protection. A polymer forms a molecular bond with other polymers in a chain-like structure or polymerization, which involves the formation of chains of monomers to form a polymer.
Cross linking tends to increase strength and toughness, cross-linking consists of the formation of chemical bonds between chains, this usually takes from 12-24 hours (dependent upon local climatic conditions i.e. temperature, humidity, etc).
Cross-linking has the effect of changing a plastic from thermoplastic to thermosetting. Thus, it also increases strength, heat and electrical resistance, and especially resistance to detergents, solvents and other chemicals. They are a characteristic property of thermosetting polymer materials.
A unique aspect of polyurethane chemistry is that the hydrogen bonding acts as an additional crosslink. The majority (70%) of a polymer matrix cross-linking cycle occurs within 30 – 45 minutes of its initial wipe-on application drying; however it is recommended that a period of 12 - 24 hours is allowed for the cross-linking process to complete, otherwise polymerization and durability may be compromised
It forms a weak bond with an organic (natural) Carnauba wax as they only contain a limited amount of polymers ;( inorganic (synthetic) waxes however, are formulated with polymers, which enable molecular bonding or cross-linking
Affects of Strong Detergents
Polymer sealant forms a molecular bond to the polyurethane paint, think of it like a chain, they are formulated to be detergent resistant, so harsh detergents don't break this bond they attack the chemicals of the polymer and weaken its links."
https://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia-detailing-####/138248-polymers-part-i.html
Polymer Strength
"The physical properties of a polymer are strongly dependent on the size or length of the polymer chain. (https://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia-detailing-####/138248-polymers-part-i.html#). Polymerization is the process of combining many small molecules known as monomers into a covalently bonded chain. There are three types of chain polymerization: radical, ionic, and co-ordination.
The polymers formed through the chain (addition) method are always thermoplastics because of the essentially linear nature of the reaction. A common means of expressing the length of a chain is the degree of polymerization, which quantifies the number of monomers incorporated into the chain
An inorganic based wax formulated from polymers used to seal paint with a thin hard barrier. They are very durable and provide a very bright, but flat silvery shine. This type of product is a compromise as it does provide durability but lacks the properties of a Carnauba wax lacking both colour and depth, and because of a polymer's inherent Covalent (molecular) structure it cannot mimic the properties of a Carnauba wax. (See also Polymer Carnauba wax Differences)
If not properly engineered, polymer sealants may crack, yellow or distort the optics of the paint surface. Most quality polymer based sealants contain amine (reactive alkoxy group) as well as a blend of resins and a small percentage of wax.
Sealants distinguish themselves by the type of chemically engineered polymer that is used, and the ingredients formulated in the emulsion system suspending the polymers, as well as the other combination of ingredients in the product.
The development of modern polymeric sealants coincided with the development of the polymer industry itself; sometime in the early ‘30’s.Common sealants include silicones, acrylics, urethanes, butyls and other polymeric types Since the bonding or cross-linking of polymers increases the toughness and strength of the material, it makes sense that the cross-linking of polymers is an essential element of modern synthetic automobile sealants.
Since urethane clear coat paint is both a polymer and has porosity, a durable bond is formed and provides the intended protection. A polymer forms a molecular bond with other polymers in a chain-like structure or polymerization, which involves the formation of chains of monomers to form a polymer.
It cannot form a bond with an organic (natural) Carnauba wax as they do not contain polymers ;( inorganic (synthetic) waxes however, are formulated with polymers, which enable molecular bonding or cross-linking
The molecular structure of all polymers are based on a chain of carbon atoms, chemically it is a molecule formed by the chemical union of five or more identical combining units called monomers. An inorganic based wax formulated from polymers used to seal paint with a thin hard barrier. They are very durable and provide a very bright, but flat silvery shine.
This type of product is a compromise as it does provide durability but lacks the properties of a Carnauba (Brasilia) wax lacking both colour and depth, and because of a polymer's inherent Covalent (molecular) structure it cannot mimic the properties of a Carnauba wax. "
http://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia-detailing-####/136993-chemical-bonding-polymers-etc.html
Polymer Sealants
"Since urethane clear coat paint is both a polymer and has porosity, a durable bond is formed and provides the intended protection. A polymer forms a molecular bond with other polymers in a chain-like structure or polymerization, which involves the formation of chains of monomers to form a polymer.
Cross linking tends to increase strength and toughness, cross-linking consists of the formation of chemical bonds between chains, this usually takes from 12-24 hours (dependent upon local climatic conditions i.e. temperature, humidity, etc).
Cross-linking has the effect of changing a plastic from thermoplastic to thermosetting. Thus, it also increases strength, heat and electrical resistance, and especially resistance to detergents, solvents and other chemicals. They are a characteristic property of thermosetting polymer materials.
A unique aspect of polyurethane chemistry is that the hydrogen bonding acts as an additional crosslink. The majority (70%) of a polymer matrix cross-linking cycle occurs within 30 – 45 minutes of its initial wipe-on application drying; however it is recommended that a period of 12 - 24 hours is allowed for the cross-linking process to complete, otherwise polymerization and durability may be compromised
It forms a weak bond with an organic (natural) Carnauba wax as they only contain a limited amount of polymers ;( inorganic (synthetic) waxes however, are formulated with polymers, which enable molecular bonding or cross-linking
Affects of Strong Detergents
Polymer sealant forms a molecular bond to the polyurethane paint, think of it like a chain, they are formulated to be detergent resistant, so harsh detergents don't break this bond they attack the chemicals of the polymer and weaken its links."
https://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia-detailing-####/138248-polymers-part-i.html
Polymer Strength
"The physical properties of a polymer are strongly dependent on the size or length of the polymer chain. (https://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia-detailing-####/138248-polymers-part-i.html#). Polymerization is the process of combining many small molecules known as monomers into a covalently bonded chain. There are three types of chain polymerization: radical, ionic, and co-ordination.
The polymers formed through the chain (addition) method are always thermoplastics because of the essentially linear nature of the reaction. A common means of expressing the length of a chain is the degree of polymerization, which quantifies the number of monomers incorporated into the chain
An inorganic based wax formulated from polymers used to seal paint with a thin hard barrier. They are very durable and provide a very bright, but flat silvery shine. This type of product is a compromise as it does provide durability but lacks the properties of a Carnauba wax lacking both colour and depth, and because of a polymer's inherent Covalent (molecular) structure it cannot mimic the properties of a Carnauba wax. (See also Polymer Carnauba wax Differences)
If not properly engineered, polymer sealants may crack, yellow or distort the optics of the paint surface. Most quality polymer based sealants contain amine (reactive alkoxy group) as well as a blend of resins and a small percentage of wax.
Sealants distinguish themselves by the type of chemically engineered polymer that is used, and the ingredients formulated in the emulsion system suspending the polymers, as well as the other combination of ingredients in the product.
The development of modern polymeric sealants coincided with the development of the polymer industry itself; sometime in the early ‘30’s.Common sealants include silicones, acrylics, urethanes, butyls and other polymeric types Since the bonding or cross-linking of polymers increases the toughness and strength of the material, it makes sense that the cross-linking of polymers is an essential element of modern synthetic automobile sealants.
Since urethane clear coat paint is both a polymer and has porosity, a durable bond is formed and provides the intended protection. A polymer forms a molecular bond with other polymers in a chain-like structure or polymerization, which involves the formation of chains of monomers to form a polymer.
It cannot form a bond with an organic (natural) Carnauba wax as they do not contain polymers ;( inorganic (synthetic) waxes however, are formulated with polymers, which enable molecular bonding or cross-linking
The molecular structure of all polymers are based on a chain of carbon atoms, chemically it is a molecule formed by the chemical union of five or more identical combining units called monomers. An inorganic based wax formulated from polymers used to seal paint with a thin hard barrier. They are very durable and provide a very bright, but flat silvery shine.
This type of product is a compromise as it does provide durability but lacks the properties of a Carnauba (Brasilia) wax lacking both colour and depth, and because of a polymer's inherent Covalent (molecular) structure it cannot mimic the properties of a Carnauba wax. "