After reading differing opinions on whether the alclad layer should / needs to be removed, when PreKote is to be used for surface preparation, I sent an e-mail to Pantheon Chemical, the manufacturer of PreKote.
Nate, a process engineer at Pantheon, patiently answered my questions and also allowed me to post his statements here in the forum. I thought this might be beneficial for other builders, as removing the alclad layer with a Scotch-Brite pad is a very tedious job, what would made the use of PreKote rather unattractive.
This is what he told me, quotations are italic:
- All his statements refer to clad aluminum (not the lacquer with the same name). The shiny layer of pure aluminum, on top of the aluminum alloy, Van's aircraft are made of.
- The PreKote process involves the use of a ScotchBrite for removal of oxides and agitation of PreKote.
- Fortunately with PreKote, you do not need to deviate from the application procedure to remove this oxide layer.
- Removing the oxides present on the Alclad layer is important but removing it completely is not necessary.
I think this makes the application just as easy as the preparation for rattle can primer or the SW P60G2, I initially wanted to use. Instead, I will now give PreKote + AKZO 463 a try.
Besides of the supposedly fast and easy application, I like what I found on their website:
- PreKote is extremely safe and is a non-hazardous, non-toxic, and quickly biodegradable technology with a pH of approximately 10–11.5. Chromated conversion coatings (such as Alodine) are highly corrosive acids (pH of 1.3–3.0), contain a known carcinogen and do not biodegrade.
- After passing numerous paint system specification tests by the US Air Force, Aerospace OEMs, and USAF flight-testing, the USAF specified PreKote as the only replacement for chromated conversion coatings in the T.O. 1-1-8, the umbrella Technical Order for aircraft painting.
- PreKote has proven to be compatible with any epoxy or urethane primer or topcoat from major manufacturers.
Nate referred me to this training video: https://youtu.be/K1oHQwY1GYE
He also sent me an application guide, sadly this forum does however not allow attachments. The guide at Aircraftspruce is very similar, the main steps are identical: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pdf/09-00825instruct.pdf
Oliver
Nate, a process engineer at Pantheon, patiently answered my questions and also allowed me to post his statements here in the forum. I thought this might be beneficial for other builders, as removing the alclad layer with a Scotch-Brite pad is a very tedious job, what would made the use of PreKote rather unattractive.
This is what he told me, quotations are italic:
- All his statements refer to clad aluminum (not the lacquer with the same name). The shiny layer of pure aluminum, on top of the aluminum alloy, Van's aircraft are made of.
- The PreKote process involves the use of a ScotchBrite for removal of oxides and agitation of PreKote.
- Fortunately with PreKote, you do not need to deviate from the application procedure to remove this oxide layer.
- Removing the oxides present on the Alclad layer is important but removing it completely is not necessary.
I think this makes the application just as easy as the preparation for rattle can primer or the SW P60G2, I initially wanted to use. Instead, I will now give PreKote + AKZO 463 a try.
Besides of the supposedly fast and easy application, I like what I found on their website:
- PreKote is extremely safe and is a non-hazardous, non-toxic, and quickly biodegradable technology with a pH of approximately 10–11.5. Chromated conversion coatings (such as Alodine) are highly corrosive acids (pH of 1.3–3.0), contain a known carcinogen and do not biodegrade.
- After passing numerous paint system specification tests by the US Air Force, Aerospace OEMs, and USAF flight-testing, the USAF specified PreKote as the only replacement for chromated conversion coatings in the T.O. 1-1-8, the umbrella Technical Order for aircraft painting.
- PreKote has proven to be compatible with any epoxy or urethane primer or topcoat from major manufacturers.
Nate referred me to this training video: https://youtu.be/K1oHQwY1GYE
He also sent me an application guide, sadly this forum does however not allow attachments. The guide at Aircraftspruce is very similar, the main steps are identical: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pdf/09-00825instruct.pdf
Oliver
Last edited by a moderator: