Frequently Asked Questions

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            WSR Products Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  1. What is AQUA-SHIELD WSR series enamels?
  2. How can the WSR series be applied?
  3. Do I need to thin the WSR series and with what product?
  4. Do I need to use a primer or need special surface preparation for the WSR series?
  5. Will the WSR series coatings freeze?
  6. Is the WSR series coating flammable and /or do they require any special storage?
  7. What kind of coverage can I expect from the WSR series?
  8. What is the dry time of the WSR series?

            Armor Shield Calcium Sulfonate Products FAQ

  1. What are Armor Shield Calcium Sulfonate Products?
  2. What makes Calcium Sulfonate Coatings so Corrosion Resistant?
  3. What kind of Undercutting Protection does Calcium Sulfonate provide?
  4. How are Calcium Sulfonate products applied?
  5. Can Calcium Sulfonate Products be applied over damp, rusted surfaces?
  6. What kind of temperature resistance does Calcium Sulfonate Products have?
  7. Does Electricity have any effect on Calcium Sulfonate?

 

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 WSR Products Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1 What is AQUA-SHIELD WSR Series Enamels?

The WSR series is a water carried and water thinned alkyd enamel. These alkyd enamel coatings exhibit good durability, corrosion resistance and impact resistance with high initial gloss and excellent gloss retention.

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2 How Can the WSR Series Be Applied?

Due to the unique formulation of the WSR series, it may be applied by a variety of methods. The following is a general list. Please consult your sales representative for a particular application.

Brush

Dip

Roll

Flowcoat

Spray (conventional, HVLP, Air-Assist, Electrostatic)

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3 Do I Need to Thin the WSR Series and With What Product?

Typically the WSR series needs no further reduction for most applications. If thinning is necessary use no more than 10% by volume of tap water. Do not add any other solvents whether recommended for water reducible coatings or not.

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4 Do I Need to Use a Primer or Need Special Surface Preparation for the WSR Series?

The WSR series is a direct to metal (DTM) coating and will provide excellent adhesion and corrosion resistance to bare metal and will exhibit no flash rusting. The WSR series will also give excellent adhesion to clean, dirt and oil free surfaces with pre-existing coating. Always make sure all loose paint is removed.

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5 Will the WSR Series Coatings Freeze?

No, the WSR series coatings are freeze/thaw stable products although they will thicken when exposed to freezing temperatures. It is always good practice to warm the product to room temperature before use.

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6 Is the WSR Series Coating Flammable and /or do They Require any Special Storage?

No, the WSR series is listed as a Class III combustible liquid and requires no special storage for containers less than 110 gallons and quantities of less than 300 gallons.

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7 What Kind of Coverage can I Expect From the WSR Series?

The WSR series coatings are formulated with the highest recommended amount of hiding pigment. Typically the WSR series will give acceptable coverage in a single coat at 3 to 4 mils wet film thickness. Because coverage will vary from application to application and color to color the following can be used as a guideline:

Coverage of WSR621 Green per gallon at 3 mil wet film thickness:

Brush, Roll         250 sq. ft.

Spray 200 sq. ft. (conventional)

Dip, Flow           225 sq. ft.

  230 sq. ft. (electrostatic)

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8 What is the Dry Time of the WSR Series?

Because temperature and humidity play a big role in the dry time of air dry coatings and especially water reducible coatings, the following can be used as a guideline:

                         50° F 70° F 90° F

35% Humidity 45 min.* 30 min.* 15 min.*

70% Humidity 75 min.* 60 min* 60 min.*

                                                      * Dry to handle

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For safety and performance information, please consult the product data and material safety data sheets.

Armor Shield Calcium Sulfonate Products FAQ

 1)    What are Armor Shield Calcium Sulfonate Products?

ARMOR SHIELD Calcium Sulfonate products are a combination of calcium sulfonate resin and calcium carbonate platelets, which form a viscous coating with excellent resistance to corrosion from salts, water and high humidty enviroments.

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2)    What makes Calcium Sulfonate Coatings so Corrosion Resistant?

The calcium sulfonate resin and calcium carbonate platelets in ARMOR-SHIELD products are alkaline in nature with an average pH of about 10. This pH range is too basic for active corrosion (rust) to form and creates a passivating layer on metal surfaces. This alkaline or basic surface tends to neutralize any acids that penetrate the coating. This makes them well suited to prevent corrosion caused by today's acid rains. Calcium sulfonate resins and calcium carbonate platelets form a hydrophobic hydrocarbon chain structure that is positively charged and has a strong affinity for the negatively charged metal surface. This provides excellent adhesion to metal surfaces while preventing water from reaching the metal and thus denies one of the necessary ingredients for corrosion.

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3)    What Kind of Undercutting Protection Does Calcium Sulfonate Provide?

As mentioned above, calcium sulfonate coatings are alkaline in nature and obtain adhesion through totally different mechanisms than conventional paints. Conventional paints obtain adhesion through hydroxyl, carboxyl, and epoxide groups. Because of these different adhesion systems, the sulfonate coatings are not bothered by the ions generated during the corrosion process that normally cause undercutting. The high affinity of the calcium sulfonate for bare metal resist the formation of undercutting in areas where a film has been damaged providing excellent undercutting protection.

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4)   How are Calcium Sulfonate Products Applied?

ARMOR SHIELD Calcium Sulfonate products can be applied by Brush, Roller or Spray. Calcium Sulfonate products contain calcium carbonate platelets that create a "gel" like consistency. This viscosity allows the product to be brushed and rolled while maintaining adequate thickness for corrosion resistance. When mixed or sprayed, the resulting shear breaks these bonds allowing smooth uniform application. Immediately on removing the shear, these bonds reform. This occurs even in a diluted state. The net result is a product which is easily spray applied while providing excellent build and sag resistance (up to 60 mils is typical).

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5)   Can Calcium Sulfonate Products be Applied Over Damp, Rusted Surfaces?

Calcium sulfonate resins adhere and perform well over poorly cleaned metal surfaces including, rusty metal and damp surfaces. The calcium sulfonate has a higher affinity for metal than water does. This gives products that contain calcium sulfonate resins the ability to displace water from metal surfaces. The carbonate platelet increases the path length that oxygen or water would need to take to reach the metal substrate. The resins that form the matrix between the platelets provide further resistance to moisture penetration, increasing corrosion protection.

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6)   What Kind of Temperature Resistance Does Calcium Sulfonate Products Have?

Modified Calcium Sulfonate does not exhibit a melting point. Any softening or dropping points are in excess of 500° F. Modified calcium sulfonate remains flexible even when frozen in an applied coating. In concentrated solutions, modified calcium sulfonate has little tendency to separate or settle due to their thixotropy at temperatures from 0 to 130° F.

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7)   Does Electricity Have Any Effect on Calcium Sulfonate?

Calcium sulfonate coatings are not good conductors of electricity. Since stray electric currents accelerate corrosion, calcium sulfonate coatings are effective in metal joints and seams where currents would concentrate. This makes calcium sulfonate coatings an excellent choice for use on transmission towers or electrical control boxes.

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