Windshield Water Repellants

1
Windshield Water Repellants
Presented by Steven Balfe Technology
Manager Shell Global Solutions (US), Inc.
2
Windshield Water Repellants

• Product Function Produce a high water contact
  angle to bead water allowing airflow to remove
  under normal driving conditions. Secondary
  function allows easier removal of dirt, insect
  residue, ice, and snow from glass.
• Consumer Benefit Increased visibility due to
  rapid water removal and less distortion with
  water coating windshield.

3
Windshield Water Repellants

• Independent study conducted to validate improved
  visibility.
• University of Michigan Transportation Research
  Institute (UMTRI-97-31)
• The remaining statistically significant effects,
  three-way interactions, all showed improved
  visual acuity resulting from the hydrophobic
  treatment.
• Similar levels of improvement in visual acuity
  may not be observed with worn, or less effective,
  applications of hydrophobic coating.

4
Windshield Water Repellants

• Hydrophobic Lacking affinity for water.
  Sometimes defined in terms of measurable
  phenomena as producing a contact angle with water
  of greater than 90.

5
Windshield Water Repellants

• Technology Available
• Silicone with acid catalyst
• Organo-silane, possibly fluorinated
• Silicone functionalized surfactants
• Carnauba wax
• Silicone emulsion
• Diamond-Like-Carbon coatings
• Hydrophobic treated nano-particulates

6
Windshield Water Repellants

• Differences in some chemistries performance as
  newly applied product.

7
Windshield Water Repellants

• Performance Needs
• Static Contact Angle Performance testing
  indicates that contact angles of less than
  60-70 produce unsatisfactory performance.
• Dynamic Water Release Water must be completely
  released and not trail small droplets.
• Wiper Compatibility Surface produced must
  function with current windshield wiper.
  Abrasiveness, tendency for chattering,
  haze/visibility, and streaking must be considered.

8
Windshield Water Repellants

• VOC Reduction Possibilities
• Water Emulsion Surfactant based emulsion of
  hydrophobic treatment. Generally lowered
  durability.
• Water Based Silicone Quaternary Lowered
  durability and initial performance.
• Exempt Organic Solvents Additional study needed
  to define ability to use.
• Perfluorinated Solvents Expensive, specialized
  packaging required, patented system, health
  concerns.
• Stable Paste Patented system, silicone paste
  with acid catalyst using particulates lt100
  microns.

9
Windshield Water Repellants

• Current Commercial Situation
• Factory application by some vehicle OEMs.
• Highly patented area with limited commercial
  availability of technology.
• Market dominated by alcohol based, catalyzed
  silicone products.
• Some health concerns over various technologies.
• Consumer safety issue with poor function with
  existing windshield wiper systems.

10
Windshield Water Repellants

• Proposed Recommendation
• Define product category to only specific
  hydrophobic treatments.
• Implementation date placed in future (2010) to
  allow commercial development of alternative
  products.
• Consider phased in implementation to allow
  development time for alternatives. Reduction to
  75 followed by 40.

11
Windshield Water Repellants

• Proposed Definition Product when applied to
  exterior of vehicle windshield produces a
  hydrophobic effect as its primary function. This
  category does not include windshield washer
  fluids, vehicle wax, glass cleaners or other
  products that impart a hydrophobic effect as a
  secondary function.