They spray it with a load of lubricating/silicone oil that may or may not have a little bit of PTFE powder in it.....it's not the PTFE keeping the dirt offEdax wrote: For a similar reason a lot of people spray their racing bike frames with PTFE (Well the hardcore racers do it to prevent having to carry a few grams of dirt around, I just do it because I'm quite lazy when it comes to cleaning after a ride)
I think you're talking about iridescence. I'd agree.turbof1 wrote:I'm not going to vouch for either of you, but I do have my own theory about it.
First off, have you ever seen gasoline in water in broad daylight? The mixture breaks the sunlight into its color spectrum. It's because the gasoline top reflects light differently then the water underneath.
I believe the purple is the same: the coating is colorless, but due the bottom paint reflecting light differently, and perhaps also the shadows from the garage play in it, the color spectrum splits and that is causing the purple hue. Obviously Tedt would be seeing this too.
It is known that teams use these coats, no question about it that Mercedes has one.
EDIT: I feel this doesn't belong here and is worthy enough for its own topic. I'll split it off later on.
Bigno! Iridescence is what I meant. +1:avatar wrote: I think you're talking about iridescence. I'd agree.
On the full-width photo SectorOne posted of the front end, the left side (right of frame) of the wing shows the colouration on the silver trailing edges, whereas it's far less (if at all) visible on the right side.
Think pearlescent paints, insect wings etc. No pigment, but visibly coloured due to their optical properties (variously: scattering/refraction/polarisation) rather than absorption/reflection that pigments use.
P.s. I've no clue what the coating is - could just be a funky pearlescent paint job, or something more functional - no idea!
Indeed there is a lot of stuff around. But the stuff I'm using is PTFE particles with an acrylic binder and solvent, so not oil based, and the end result is (supposed to be) a highly packed dry layer.PhillipM wrote:They spray it with a load of lubricating/silicone oil that may or may not have a little bit of PTFE powder in it.....it's not the PTFE keeping the dirt offEdax wrote: For a similar reason a lot of people spray their racing bike frames with PTFE (Well the hardcore racers do it to prevent having to carry a few grams of dirt around, I just do it because I'm quite lazy when it comes to cleaning after a ride)
Well, just as an experiment, you can buy acrylic binder from most art/paint shops, and PTFE powder from many locksmiths. If you wish to try it, see what the durability is like of PTFE staying bonded to a thin surface coating of acrylic binder - even when it's acid etched, it's not good. Especially if it's being hit by debris at 200mph. The thing about a non-stick powder is, it works both waysEdax wrote: Indeed there is a lot of stuff around. But the stuff I'm using is PTFE particles with an acrylic binder and solvent, so not oil based, and the end result is (supposed to be) a highly packed dry layer.
Well I'm not doing 200 on my bike and the chances of me accidentally cycling into a hurricane are pretty slim, so I don't really worry about 200 mph debris.PhillipM wrote:Well, just as an experiment, you can buy acrylic binder from most art/paint shops, and PTFE powder from many locksmiths. If you wish to try it, see what the durability is like of PTFE staying bonded to a thin surface coating of acrylic binder - even when it's acid etched, it's not good. Especially if it's being hit by debris at 200mph. The thing about a non-stick powder is, it works both waysEdax wrote: Indeed there is a lot of stuff around. But the stuff I'm using is PTFE particles with an acrylic binder and solvent, so not oil based, and the end result is (supposed to be) a highly packed dry layer.
OT.. Worked with ultra high vacuum applications. In vacuum it is agressive, mobile and non-cleanable. If you get some silicone contamination, then your equipment is a write-off.n smikle wrote:Why do you hate silicone oils?
That's interesting. Could be true, if something is harmful for production then it is usually banned from the whole facility. I know a few places where you rather want to get caught arriving at work drunk than carrying the wrong materials.flyboy2160 wrote:Based on a couple of decades around military aerospace composites, I seriously doubt if there is any Teflon coating on the composite surfaces because it would prohibit a bonded repair. It wouldn't even surprise me if Teflon suspended in sprays or liquids is actually banned from anywhere in the vicinity of the car, if not the entire factory, because of the potential for contaminating composite fabrication and repairs.
But you do not need them to be that hard wearing, the surface must only be very smooth. You can do this with the clear coat, Mercedes has a lot of experience in this field, maybe the best clear coats on road cars.Ramdrive wrote:I know Ted said it is a spray but I would find that hard to believe.
For this application I would use a thermoplastic film as it needs to be hard wearing and aerodynamically efficient, In fact we developed such a film for another industry.
It's not hard to believe, most teams use off-the-shelf paint treatment systems, as I said earlier, I know for a fact Force India have been using Gtechniqs Crystal Coatings for the past few years, and their C2 spray as a top up, and I've seen their bottles in other garages too, albiet with stickers removed from those that have other companies sponsoring them which are competing in the same field.Ramdrive wrote:I know Ted said it is a spray but I would find that hard to believe.
For this application I would use a thermoplastic film as it needs to be hard wearing and aerodynamically efficient, In fact we developed such a film for another industry.
