REMOVING PAINT FROM Vical acrylic

Paint may be removed from Vical acrylic acrylic plastic with solvents, Trialene soap, or by sand blasting.

SOLVENTS

Solvents used for removing paint from Vical acrylic must be carefully chosen because most solvents tend to cause crazing, particularly on deeply drawn formed parts. The best solvent for paint removal is cyclohexanone. The Vical acrylic should be wiped with a solvent­soaked rag. It should not be soaked in the cyclohexanone. Solvesso 100 may also be used. The painted Vical acrylic part may be immersed in the solvent for a period often minutes or less. After soaking, the paint may be removed by wiping the surface with a cloth.

When solvent is used to remove paint from Vical acrylic, it should be annealed to remove the residual solvent which may cause crazing. While the initial solvent treatment may not craze the Vical acrylic, subsequent contact with other solvents may cause crazing unless the Vical acrylic is properly annealed.

TRIALENE SOAP

Trialene soap is particularly useful for paint removal when the paint has not been on the Vical acrylic for a long time. Once the paint has been removed, the Trialene soap must be thoroughly cleaned from the Vical acrylic surface by rinsing with fresh water. The Vical acrylic must be dried before repainting.

Caustic soda and trisodium phosphate may also be used for removing paint from Vical acrylic.

CAUTION: Trialene soap, caustic soda, and trisodium phosphate attack human skin very quickly. The operator's hands should be protected by rubber gloves. Safety goggles should be worn while using these compounds.

SAND BLASTING

Sand blasting will also remove paint from Vical acrylic, but this method is generally more expensive than the other methods and leaves the Vical acrylic with a frosted surface. Only a fine grade of sand should be used. Sand blasted surfaces sometimes have a grayish tone when they are repainted with white paint.

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