STAINLESS SHIELD ®

Description

HOW TO PREVENT STAINLESS STEEL FROM RUSTING

1. Stainless Steel must be clean, dry and free from rust, stains, oil or other pollutants. Wash all surfaces with BOAT CLEAN PLUS®, a free rinsing, water based cleaner degreaser, to remove all surface contaminants and pollutants. If the Stainless Steel is rusty or stained, clean first with QUICK SILVER® One Step, Stainless Steel Cleaner. Rust Remover and Passivator.
2. Wipe on 2 or 3 coats of STAINLESS SHIELD® with a lint free cloth pad, such as an old T Shirt folded into a pad. Allow each coat to dry before applying the next (approximately 30 minutes).
3. Allow to cure a minimum of 48 hours before use.
4. For added protection against scuffing and to make salt removal easier, apply 2 coats of VS721™ after STAINLESS SHIELD® is fully cured. Salt can’t stick to VS721™. To clean salt from your protected Stainless Steel, simply rinse clean with fresh water. No washing or scrubbing required.

STAINLESS SHIELD® displays excellent performance as a direct to metal finish for Stainless Steel, with excellent adhesion and water resistance. It dries to a clear, glossy, hard and durable finish. It’s environment friendly, water based, very low VOC’s and does not contain any hazardous or toxic ingredients so it’s safe to use. No primer or special preparation is required.

AURORA BOAT CARE PRODUCTS are designed to be compatible with each other. By using the “System Matched” products, you can be assured of guaranteed results every time. No more guessing. No more botched jobs. No more making do with inferior products. Just perfect, professional, results every time. We don’t just sell products, we sell Boat Care Solutions.

STAINLESS SHIELD® is not another, temporary, oil based protectant but a durable clear, polymeric coating that will Shield your Stainless Steel against harsh environmental attack, corrosion and pitting for years. No more rusting. Just, easy to maintain, bright, shiny Stainless Steel. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?

STAINLESS SHIELD® uses the latest water based technology to make their product very low in VOC’s, non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, non-flammable and without obnoxious fumes. It’s a Green Product: Environment Friendly, Human Friendly, Boat Friendly. Yet, when dried and cured, it’s a very tough and durable clear coating that will ensure that your Stainless Steel will keep its beautiful appearance for years.

This clear, glossy coating was formulated especially for protecting Stainless Steel. It has excellent adhesion properties, gives an even film build up without an oily or greasy residue and no buffing or polishing is required after application. This means less work a beautiful long lasting gloss finish that will not attract dust, dirt or even fingerprints. It’s easy to apply. Just wipe on and let it dry and cure.

STAINLESS SHIELD®, especially when over coated with VS721™, is resistant to mild acids and alkaline, hard water spots, salt adhesion, finger prints, bird droppings and most cleaners. It bonds direct to metal with no primers or special preparation required (except to insure that the surface is clean, dry and free from rust, prior to application).

This protective coating is durable and long lasting and will give you more time to enjoy your boat instead of cleaning it. STAINLESS SHIELD® is a clear, water based polymeric coating formulated especially for Stainless Steel.

Understanding Stainless Steel is a bit confusing. Most people wonder why it rusts, pits and stains when it’s supposed to be stainless. In fact, there are many grades of Stainless Steel, each alloy designed for a specific purpose. They are blends of mild steel with various concentrations of chromium, nickel, molybdenum and other ingredients that effect its strength, workability, weld ability, ability to resist (but not entirely eliminate) corrosion, etc. Marine grade typically refers to 304 and 316 grades, but there are other variations, with 316 variations being the most resistant to salt water and chemical attack.

The way that Stainless Steel works is that it forms a microscopic layer of chromium oxide on the surface that is highly resistant to corrosion; its Passive State. It requires a constant state of interaction with oxygen in the air or flowing water to maintain this chromium oxide layer. If this oxygen interaction is disrupted by abrasion, or inhibited by the presence of stagnant water where the oxygen is depleted or deposition of chlorides from salt water or salt air, preventing the oxidation process to continue, the passive Stainless Steel layer reverts back to its Active State, similar to that of mild steel. It then begins to corrode or rust all over again.

Another common factor that affects the performance of Stainless Steel is mild steel or iron contamination. Even minor traces of steel or iron on the surface can act as an initiator or seed for rust to begin developing. Once started, it deprives the natural oxidation process, and it can spread rapidly and burrow deep into the metal to create corrosive pits and crevices. This can occur from abrasion contact with a piece of steel or even the use of steel bit screwdrivers, sockets or wrenches used to tighten screws and bolts during the construction of your boat. Trace amounts of iron are transferred from the tool to the head of the bolt or the nut, or the chromium oxide layer is ruptured from the torque, and that starts the rusting process. Rusty, stained Stainless Steel is unsightly and if left untreated, the bolt, chain or other part can fail and break with considerable negative consequence.

Cleaning your Stainless Steel, and removing the rust is only doing one half the job. It’s also important to make the stainless passive again by restoring the chromium oxide layer. In addition to removing the rust and deep cleaning the metal, QUICK SILVER® also recreates the chromium oxide layer to re-passivate the surface. This will keep your Stainless Steel shiny and rust free, at least until it’s attacked by another bout of oxygen deprivation by salt or rust initiation by iron, etc.

The good news is that now you can add considerable long term protection by sealing your Stainless Steel with STAINLESS SHIELD®. Salt and pollutants can’t penetrate it. It can last a whole year or longer.