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Managing the Effects of Acid Rain
What is acid rain?
Simply put, acid rain is the atmosphere's way of cleaning itself
of pollutants, chemicals and other industrial emissions that collect
in the earth's atmosphere. While in the air, pollutants combine
with water vapor to form nitric and sulfuric acid, which is similar
to car battery acid. The rain or precipitation that passes through
this industrial fallout cleans the air but collects the pollutants
and brings them to earth.
How will acid rain affect my car's finish?
When rain falls, it brings down the pollutants in the form of acid
rain. This "acid rain" collects in drops on your vehicle's
painted surface. As the water evaporates, the acidic water eats
into the paint surface. The process escalates when the sun heats
the droplets and the paint.
There are three levels of acid rain damage: mild, severe and irreparable.
The severity is determined by the depth to which the acid rain has
etched the painted surface.
What can be done?
No technology currently is available to reverse the effects of acid
rain damage. But Ziebart recently introduced a product called Diamond
Gloss, which is the first coating that will protect vehicle finishes
from acid-rain damage. Additionally, some professional car-care
technicians can apply a paint protector that is designed to neutralize
acid rain and form a protective barrier that will help impede the
damaging effects. This type of product works by intercepting the
acidic water when it contacts the paint and neutralizing it to make
it virtually harmless.
Vehicle owners also can help manage
the problem by taking these steps:
- Park in a garage or carport.
- Drive your vehicle daily so that water droplets don't stand
on the paint for long periods of time and are blown off naturally.
- Rinse it and dry it after every rain to remove the acidic
droplets.
- Have a professional apply a quality paint protection designed
to reduce or prevent acid rain damage, such as Ziebart's Zee-Glaze
or Diamond Gloss.
When shopping for a new car or truck, be aware that vehicles parked
on car dealers' lots generally are the most susceptible to acid
rain damage because the paint is new and not completely cured and
the vehicles are not driven often. Be sure to ask if the vehicle
you're considering has been protected and, if necessary, have it
thoroughly inspected by a car care expert to determine if any damage
has occurred.
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