PROGUARDplus® is a concentrated emulsion of aminomethoxyfunctional dim ethyl polymers which form a plasticity film of all hard painted surfaces by reacting with the moisture in the air. Once the film has cured (24 hours) it will strongly adhere to the painted surface. Performance advantages are:

• The film is highly durable
• Better shine and deeper colour than other products or processes available
• Excellent protection from the ultraviolet rays of the sun which cause oxidation
• Good resistance to chemical corrosion
• Application procedures are quick, since the film cures with the moisture in the air as opposed to curing with the friction of conventional electric polishers
• Treated surfaces will no longer require conventional polishing or waxing.
• Once the treatment has applied simply rinse with clear water.

APPLICATIONS

PROGUARDplus® Polymer is used to protect a variety of painted and gel coated surfaces in the automotive, yachting and aircraft industries. Other applications include metal furniture and specialist material sectors.

DURABLE POLISH CONTAINING FUNCTIONAL POLYMERS
(Description by DOW CORNING CORP)

The durable polish supplied by PROGUARDplus® is a water based product containing functional polymers. The functional polymers present are used in polish formations to give durable protection, detergent resisitance, high gloss and colour enhancement. Due to the reactivity of the functional groups on the polymers these products cure to deposit a film of cross linked polymer on the yacht or car surface. This layer adheres strongly to the surface.
These cross linked films can be over painted using standard preparation procedures.
PROGUARDplus® has applied the durable polish onto yachts and cars. As a result of this they have extensive test results to show the perforance such as durability of gloss of the polish in their actual usage.

The Polymer Surface – Technical details

The polymer is not a polymer as such when first applied. It is initially many individual molecules with two reactive ends. One wants to bind strongly to substances like plastics and the other is a special silicone tail.

Upon application, the molecule binds to the gel-coat, leaving the silicone tails sticking out of the surface. These tails are ‘silicone friendly’ and are repellent to both water and oils.

These tails react and cross-link with each other forming a dense ‘net’ that seals the surface and encapsulates the UV protection elements. This cross-linking takes around 24 hours to complete.

The result of the ‘cross-linked silicone net’ is our polymer.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

STEP ONE

Using a combination of our three grades of polishing compounds, we remove existing finishes and treatments (Teflon, etc.), plus the varied levels of scratching and the effects of general weathering.

STEP TWO

The application of our fine grade polishes, similar to those used in the polishing of precious metals, using our purpose manufactured orbital polishing machines, resulting in the smooth and clean surfaces required prior to embarking upon Step Three.

STEP THREE

Having selected the correct grade of polymer by assessing the existing finish and surface color, our polymers are gently and expertly applied using our high quality orbital polishers. The surface then cures to an operational level over a 24 hour period

UV protection – Technical details

UV solar radiation damages marine paints over time. The surface degrades and eventually roughens. Typically, after 3000 hours of exposure the surface will have lost 30% of it’s gloss.

To protect against this we add two anti-UV components.

1: We add micronized uv filters. These reflect UV light back away from the surface, and is so fine it is practically transparent. To keep the particle anchored to the surface it is coated with a silicone compound that attaches it tightly to the polymer and makes it water repellent, thus preventing it from being removed by washing.

2: Also included is a UV absorbent. This compound absorbs any UV that gets past the filter particles. It absorbs the UV light and emits its energy as heat (IR radiation). This compound is also silicone compatible, resulting in a long lasting life in our polymer.

Product Development: Wash Durability

During development we test for product durability under normal usage. An important test is Wash Durability. This test replicates normal washing with soap and sponge that a crew member would undertake as part of general “washing down”.

To facilitate this we use a standard test panel (aluminum plate painted with black polyurethane) finished to a specified roughness & gloss. It is treated with our test polymer. This is allowed to cure for 24 hours.

We then place the panel into our washing machine. This machine washes in a standard way, ie. two strokes with a sponge, at 10N vertical force, while immersed with a 0.5% soln of SDS (Sodium dodecyl sulphate) in water.

Following this wash, the test panel is rinsed and dried. The gloss is then measured. This measuring cycle will be repeated up to 300 times

All IE Series polymers last at least 250 of these simulated washes. That translates to 500 firm strokes with a sponge in soapy water.

EG

The Chart below shows an example of the tests completed to determine durability. The untreated panel gloss (Gi) for this test was approximately 78 GU. Treated panels quickly improved to around 83, and for some samples remained at this gloss for over 250 washes (by which time the sponge disintegrates )
This particular test aims to determine the consequence of polishing only with a cutting compound (missing the swirl remover step) and then applying the IE polymer, and doesn’t reflect the performance of the polymer when applied by Proguard’s process.

Water Exclusion – why is this important?

Question: Why, if gel-coats and paints are waterproof, is it necessary to exclude water?
Answer: Well for two reasons:

One: As the gel-coat/ paint ages the surface develops scratches, nicks and cracks. It is into these faults that seawater will find its way. As this water evaporates salt crystals grow within these cavities. Salt crystals are jagged and with force they work like a sharp tool to expand the cavity. The effect is very small but, with time and ongoing ‘wet-dry’ cycles, the problem areas expand which result in additional wear.

 

Two: Acid rain, especially prevalent around European waters, is particularly damaging It contains particles of sulfuric and nitric acid. Gel-coats consist of a polyester or polyurethane resin plus a ‘filler’ which, cost effectively, increases the structure’s strength. Many different fillers are used, but calcium carbonate (limestone, Omyacarb) and similar soluble compounds are frequently used. These fillers will dissolve where acid rain is present. This is protected by the polyester shell but as the gel-coat ages and UV breaks down the surface layer, the filler becomes exposed resulting in porous cavities. These cavities give a dull chalky appearance that promote further degradation.

All IE-series polymers provide a water repellent barrier, thus preventing damage of this nature.

Product Development: Weathering Testing

To replicate the weathering effect of sunlight and humidity we employ ‘accelerated weathering’ techniques.

This technique uses UV lamps and a humidity chamber to expose samples to environmental conditions up to 10 times faster than those found in nature.

To do this we have one of the best accelerated weathering machines available, The Q-lab QUV/se. It exposes up to 24 samples with UV light (340nm band) that closely resemble that of sunlight.

It also replicates the effect of night dew by allowing chamber humidity to condense on the gel-coat test panels. Few accelerated weathering machines can do this. Humidity is a big contributor to degradation in plastics.

With this machine we can accurately test our products for weathering durability.
We test in accordance to ASTM G 154-06 (Cycle 6). That being the “Standard Practice for Operating Fluorescent Light Apparatus for the Exposure of Non-metallic Materials”. This is a repeating cycle of 8 hours of UV light (UVA-340 @ 1.55W/m2/nm, and 60 deg C) followed by 4 hours dark condensation @ 50 deg C.