"Solvent"-based Tire Dressings

S

Setec Astronomy

Well-known member
When I joined here 20 years ago, we had water-based dressings (PDMS, white watery liquid), oil-based dressings (clear liquid or gel), and solvent-based dressings (thin transparent liquid).

I think Ketch explained once that the PDMS dressings like ArmorAll are an emulsion (dispersion into water) of the silicone oil used in the oil-based dressings. The solvent-based dressings were the silicone oil diluted with solvent, which made them quick-drying and longer lasting the the water-based dressings, and these were typically used by dealers and detail shops because they were quick to apply and quick to dry, and seemed to always come in a gallon so not too many people here used them (I`m thinking about products like Meg`s Detailer line All Season Dressing).

I think there were always niggling concerns about the solvent damaging tires, and similarly that the oil-based dressings penetrated into the tire and could be damaging, also. Because of that, and the frequent sling of oil-based dressings, most people here used water-based dressings.

I`m trying to cut through the noise around Armour`s new tire "sealant", Ghost, which seems to be simply an acrylic coating like Tuf Shine, M37, Optimum, Mr. Cartoon, etc., but they keep comparing it to "solvent-based" dressings as the target competition, referring to CarPro Darkside and Gyeon Tire (with Meg`s Endurance thrown in as an afterthought). But those are, to me, oil-based dressings, not "solvent-based".

Did I miss something in the terminology wars? Or is it, as I think, incorrect to refer to those dressings as "solvent-based"?
 
I always thought the solvent dressings didn`t really dry in the same manner as water based or sealant type of tire dressings. Some of them maintain an oily look and can be wiped off with a paper towel.
 
OK, Setec Astronomy, I wanted to know what the acronym (abbreviation, to some) PDMS stands for. It is the chemical formula for Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) OR: CH3[Si(CH3)2O]nSi(CH3)3 where "n" represents the number of repeating monomer units. What does it do? It is basically a lubricant and hydrophobicity (water beading, to the physics term-challenged).

Read this thread by now-deceased Autopia resident chemist TOGWT:
(Nothin` like the "`Way Back Machine"!.."Sherman and Peabody" 1960`s cartoon reference.. Yes, I am old(er))
https://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia-detailing-wiki/167571-silicone-polymerized-siloxanes.html?highlight=PDMS
 
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Actually it was Ketch who explained PDMS to us back in the day here at Autopia, explaining to those who cared to listen that all the white dressings were pretty much similar PDMS products.
 
Lonnie said:
OK, Setec Astronomy, I wanted to know what the acronym (abbreviation, to some) PDMS stands for. It is the chemical formula for Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) OR: CH3[Si(CH3)2O]nSi(CH3)3 where "n" represents the number of repeating monomer units. What does it do? It is basically a lubricant and hydrophobicity (water beading, to the physics term-challenged).

Read this thread by now-deceased Autopia resident chemist TOGWT:
(Nothin` like the "`Way Back Machine"!.."Sherman and Peabody" 1960`s cartoon reference.. Yes, I am old(er))
https://www.autopia.org/forums/auto...one-polymerized-siloxanes.html?highlight=PDMS
Click to expand...
The link doesn't seem to work for me...
 
OK, I discovered a work-around.

Copy-paste link and remove the 's' from "forums" to "forum". Bingo, works. :)
 
wannafbody said:
I always thought the solvent dressings didn`t really dry in the same manner as water based or sealant type of tire dressings. Some of them maintain an oily look and can be wiped off with a paper towel.
Click to expand...

Well, generally solvents are volatile and so they should "dry". However, I looked at some Meg's MSDS and ingredients, and it would seem my "oil-based" dressings are not 100% silicone oil, they are cut with some petroleum distillates (solvents) which I guess....makes them solvent-based dressings. Some of the gel ones also seem to have mineral oil in them, along with the silicone oil, so...maybe THOSE are oil-based dressings? Meg's Endurance is (according to SDS) 40-60% dimethicone (silicone oil), 10-30% Hydrotreated Light Petroleum Distillates (kerosene), and 10-30% white mineral oil.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Maybe Lonnie will edit his post.
Click to expand...
It's me, Lonnie AKA, Captain Obvious.
The removal of the "s" from the word "forums' found in past link titles in old posts by myself is a monumental task, as I have many cut-and-paste links to past/previous thread posts within this forum for reference and/or historical information and/or just a proof of something detailing-wise I am basing my methodology or opinion or suggestion on.
And yes, it is unfortunate (or just plain sucks in today's vernacular) that the new software does this and is not "compatible" with the old forum link titles and formatting. Another bug to add to the punch list for the programmers and software development team members to fix. (Yeah right.... like they have time and a budget to do this!...but it will not happen until someone on that software programming team is made aware of it and the impact it has on the end users, AKA us Autopians.)
Anyway, thanks for the work-around; not many individuals are that tech-savvy to try that out!
 
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