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CHEMCAST® GP. SHEET -- MAINTENANCE
To clean Chemcast® GP brand acrylic sheet wash with plenty of
nonabrasive soap or detergent, such as Joy Liquid, and water
using the bare hand to feel and dislodge any caked dirt or mud. A
soft, gritfree cloth, sponge or chamois may be used but only as
a means of carrying water to the plastic. Dry with a clean damp
chamois. Hard, rough cloths will scratch the Chemcast® GP and
should not be used. Discarded cotton undershirts work well. For interior installations, where water cannot be used freely,
the Chemcast® GP should first be dusted very lightly (not
wiped) with a soft, clean cloth. Then the surface can be wiped
carefully with a soft, wet cloth or chamois. The cloth or chamois
should be kept free of grit by rinsing it often in clean water. Grease and oil may be removed with hexane, kerosene, or
aliphatic naphtha (no aromatic content). Do not use solvents such as acetone, benzene, carbon
tetrachloride, fire extinguisher fluid, dry cleaning fluid, and
lacquer thinners, since they attack the Chemcast® GP surface. Do
not use window sprays or kitchen scouring compounds. B. REMOVING PAINTS FROM CHEMCAST® GP Chemcast® GP should always be protected from nearby painting
operations by covering it with kraft paper or drop cloths. If
paint splatters or over-spray settles on the Chemcast® GP it can
often be removed by soaking the painted part in a 1020%
solution of caustic soda or trisodium phosphate and subsequently
rinsing with water. If the part cannot be soaked, the caustic
soda or trisodium phosphate solution can be applied as a
paste made by adding wallpaper paste to the solution. CAUTION: Caustic soda or trisodium phosphate attack the
skin very quickly. The operator's hands should be
shielded by rubber or other protective gloves. Certain types of paints, such as those made with an
acrylic resin base, cannot be removed from Chemcast® GP by the
above method. For recommendations on how to remove these paints
see Painting Chemcast® GP Cast Acrylic
Sheet. The general instructions under "Cleaning" and
"Waxing" apply to aircraft windows and canopies as well
as other Chemcast® GP applications. Additional precautions must
be observed in the maintenance of Chemcast® GP in aircraft,
since, during the normal course of cleaning exterior aircraft
surfaces, no special care is taken to keep aircraft skin
degreasing and brightening chemicals off the Chemcast® GP
glazing. It is important therefore that such chemicals have no
solvent or crazing action on the Chemcast® GP. If, after removing dirt and grease, no great
amount of scratching is visible, the Chemcast® GP should be
waxed with a good grade of commercial wax. (Sources of Supply-Waxes) These waxes will improve the appearance of the surface
by filling in minor scratches. The wax should be applied in a
thin even coat, and brought to a high polish by rubbing lightly
with a dry, soft cloth, such as cotton flannel, outing
flannel, or flannelette. Excessive rubbing with a dry cloth is not only likely to cause
scratches but also builds up an electrostatic charge which
attracts dust particles to the Chemcast® GP surface. Blotting
with a clean, damp chamois or cloth will remove this charge as
well as the dust and is therefore recommended. For Chemcast® GP parts used indoors, antistatic coatings
successfully prevent the accumulation of an electrostatic charge
for periods of several months, if the surface is not washed or
wiped with a wet cloth. Between applications of the antistatic
coating, the parts need only be dusted with a soft, clean cloth
to maintain a good appearance. For Chemcast® GP parts used outdoors, antistatic coatings
can be applied before the parts are first installed to prevent
static build up when the parts are wiped down after installation.
Successive coatings need not be applied unless the
parts are frequently dry wiped since occasional rain and
high humidity prevent static accumulation. In use, liquid
antistatic coatings should be applied in a very thin even coat.
If beads appear as it is applied, the coat is too thick and the
excess should be removed with another cloth. Allow the coating to
dry, then bring to a high gloss with a soft cloth. When many
parts are to be coated, they may be dipped in a thinned
solution of the coating. If, after washing, the surface shows minor scratches, most of
them can be removed or reduced by hand polishing. The polishes
can best be applied with a small pad of soft cotton flannel which
has been dampened with water. Rub the Chemcast® GP in a straight
to and fro motion parallel with the light scratches to be removed
or with a circular motion. Excessive rubbing at one spot should
be avoided. Several applications may be necessary, but most minor
scratches can be reduced and the clarity improved within a
relatively short time. When the scratches are removed or considerably reduced, the
cleaner should be removed with a lean, soft cloth and an
antistatic coating or wax applied. Chemcast® GP may be safely and thoroughly sanitized by means
of any one of a number of commercially available compounds. A
further advantage in the use of high coefficient germicidal
material is that it is effective at room temperatures and the
Chemcast® GP does not have to be heated with possible softening
effect. Modification of the usual procedure can sometimes be used with
success on Chemcast® GP G parts. Successive shorter periods of
sanitization coupled with adequate supporting frame for the
Chemcast® GP part will often prove satisfactory. Alcohol
solutions containing more than 10% alcohol or cresylic acid
germicides may attack and harm the Chemcast® GP surface. Strong alkali solutions (Iye, sodium and ammonium hydroxide,
etc.), however, are extremely effective germicides, and, since
they do not attack Chemcast® GP, can be used freely. |
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Copyright © Plastiglas de Mexico 1999
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