How to degrease the surface? Degreaser for cars

Periodically, there is a need to wipe off a greasy stain from the surface of the car's body. In the conditions of the city, this can only be done on a car wash. However, most often degreasing is required when painting a vehicle. What is it for? Thanks to a similar procedure, a good coupling of the body surface with a paint finish is ensured. What and how to degrease, you should decide before the beginning of all work. It is worth considering that the usual means for such purposes are not always suitable. In addition, when processing surfaces with formulations, it is necessary to take into account certain nuances. So than to degrease the surface?

What is it for?

Before answering the question, what to degrease the surface before painting, it is worth to find out what it is for. Typically, the metal is treated with such compositions only to ensure the normal adhesion of the material from which the body is made and the paintwork. In some cases, this is simply necessary. In those cases when the car is completely repainted, the body must be covered with a layer of a special primer. To ensure good adhesion, degreasing is still required.

Adhesion, in fact, is the cohesion of one material with another. At the same time, everything happens at the molecular level. If there is a layer of fat between the metal or the primer and the paint and varnish coating, their adhesion will be insufficient. This over time can affect the appearance of the vehicle. From any vibration, the paint coating will gradually fall off.

What worsens adhesion

Degreaser for auto removes not only fat. Dirt, a variety of organic matter, oily substances of natural origin, etc. - all this reduces the adhesion of materials at the molecular level. In addition, the oxide thin film affects the adhesion. It looks like a slight rust on the surface of the body. This film is also recommended to be removed. If you can not completely remove the plaque, then you need to turn it into a stable chemical compound that does not interfere with the bonding of metal and paintwork at the molecular level.

How to degrease the surface before gluing or painting

Most often, White-Spirit is used for the body treatment. However, many people confuse this tool with ordinary kerosene or diesel fuel, because they have almost the same smell. The difference between these substances is very small. Both compounds are a mixture of carbohydrates. Such liquids are produced by distillation of oil fractions.

Some reference books indicate that "White Spirit" is an easy form of kerosene. It should be noted that the agent dissolves fatty, bituminous, rubber stains well, as well as mastic. Unlike kerosene, "White Spirit" is easier to wash off the car with ordinary water. Both substances are suitable for degreasing surfaces. At the same time, "White Spirit" is an easy connection that partially evaporates, and the rest of the product does not harm the coating after painting.

Is it worth using kerosene

Degreasing the surface is a simple process that can be carried out at home. The main thing - to choose the right tool. Some professional washing stations use kerosene, since they use special equipment for body treatment. This allows to completely remove the substance from the surface without leaving its odor. If degreasing the car is carried out in the garage, then for these purposes it is recommended to use "White Spirit" or the means on its basis. It is best to buy trains that have been hydrotreated. This indicator should be paid special attention, especially if the substance is produced domestically.

What to use is not recommended

What can I degrease the surface, and what should I not use? Many do not recommend the use of diesel, gasoline and diesel. Of course, they degrease well. However, such substances can be harmful.

Caution should be used numbered solvents, for example, No. 645, No. 646 and so on, as well as acetone. Such substances easily dissolve not only organic matter, dirt and grease, but also paint and varnish coatings. It is allowed to treat the body with acetone and solvents just before the putty.

If there are no special products, then you can use a conventional vinegar solution mixed with a few drops of dishwashing detergent.

What is used in the factory

In the factory, a solution of sodium carbonate (35-50 g / l) or a solution of sodium hydroxide (90-150 g / l) is used. This degreaser for cars should be used with extreme caution. Before starting work, it is recommended to wear gloves, because sodium itself is very corrosive. The solution is able not only to remove fat from the surface of the body, but also to wrinkle the skin on the hands.

In addition, alkaline solutions can not completely remove stains of oil and thickened grease. Such formulations have low detergency. Use alkali is recommended only after it is heated to 90 ° C. You can not bring it to a boil. It is worth noting that acid solutions well remove the oxide film, but poorly wash off the fat. So, what is the best way to degrease the surface of the body?

Trichlorethylene

In some cases, trichlorethylene or substances that have it in the composition are used to clean the bodywork. However, such remedies have their drawbacks. They can not be applied to aluminum. In production, trichlorethylene is used only for degreasing ferrous metals.

Contact with aluminum of this substance can cause an explosion. It is also not recommended to mix trichlorethylene with water, as a sticky and hard to remove mass begins to form. Most often the substance is used not in pure form, but in the form of emulsions. How to degrease the surface, it is necessary to determine in advance, so as not to spoil the body of the vehicle in the future.

Cleaning in several stages

If you do not know how and how to degrease the surface, you can refer to specialists. In the factory, cleaning is carried out in several stages. This degreasing occurs at the first stage. To begin with, the surface of the body is treated with White Spirit. If the metal in some places is affected by corrosion, it is recommended to clean it with a mixture of alcohol and orthophosphoric acid. It is worth observing the percentage of substances:

1. Phosphoric acid + water: 1 to 5. The solution should be from 65 to 75%.
2. Isopropyl alcohol - from 13 to 18%.
3. Ethyl alcohol - from 10 to 14%.
4. Emulgator OP-7 - 0,5%.
5. Nitrobenzene 0.1%.

It is very difficult to make such solutions at home. However, modern technology allows many manufacturers to make a certain class of cleaners. They can be used without problems at home. This category of substances is called anti-silicones. It is simply impossible to give general recommendations on their use, since each liquid has its own properties. It is worth noting that many anti-silicones are a mixture of several organic solvents, which have a weak toxicity. They can be used without fear of harming your health. However, from the surface of the body before painting it is recommended to remove their residues.

Recommendations

Now you know how to degrease the surface. Before buying special funds, it is worth considering some of the nuances. Even when using non-hazardous compounds it is recommended to wear gloves and a mask.

For the degreasing procedure, two wipes should be used: one is required for application of the formulation, and the second one for the removal of residues.

The treatment should be carried out after sanding and only before painting. Details, made of aluminum, should be given special attention. After all, not all substances are safe for this metal. It is not recommended to apply the dyeing composition directly to the fat-free surface, since the body should warm up to room temperature.