curing question

[III]

What happens when a vehicle gets wet either by QDing, or by rain water before a sealant or carnauba has cured? Will the product just take longer to cure, or is durability/shine compromised?

 

[Wasatch]

I had some AJ get a little sprinkle on, about an hour after applying. It just beaded nicely. I guess it depends on how much get's on there. I would believe a little bit of durability you will lose, because curing did not occur fully. I do not QD after applying a sealant or wax, I will wait about 2-3 days later, even a week sometimes.

 

[HondaGuy]

I'm pretty sure it dissinegrates and completely dissappears. lol JK I wouldn't know cuz I'm no scientist or speller. lol

 

[Sherman8r44]

According to polymer sealant manufacturers, it will end the curing process when the surface is exposed to water. So durability, and to a lesser extent shine and slickness, will suffer a bit.

 

[velobard]

This basic question came up over at the FK1 forums. Their response was:

We have seen a bit being made about the 24-48 hours for curing. If you can keep it dry all the better. However we have a lot of body shops etc. that send the vehicles immediately to the wash bay and the product still performs very nicely. Bottom line if you have the ability to keep the surface dry for a day or two you will be able to take full advantage of the products abilities.

 

[imported_memnuts]

As mentioned before water will effect curing of a sealant. Waxes do not and will not ever cure. The effect of water into a wax-based system is minimal because the evolution of the wax bonding to the surface and the evaporation of the wax carrying solvents (hydrophilic) are uneffect by water (i.e spit shining application technique). In terms of sealants that truely cross-link will depend on at what time during the curing process in which water is introduced.



A not well publicized reason why many Zaino users use ZFX, even for a single application, is to prevent such water introduction and many environmental assaults prior to complete curing. ZFX-enabled Z sealant creates instant curing.



Let it rain immediately after Zaino application and you will still get maximal Z sealant performance. :xyxthumbs