What is in commercial glass cleaners

Here is chemical breakdown based on MSDS of popular glass cleaners

ClearVue Professional:
isopropyl alcohol (1-3%) - alcohol
2-butoxyethanol (0.5-1%) - dissolution promoter
propylene glycol methyl ether (3-5%)
acetone (1-3%) - nonpolar solvent
water


Windex blue:
2-butoxyethanol (0-2%) - dissolution promoter
isopropyl alcohol (0-3%) - alcohol
ammonia - emulsifier
water


Windex commercial:
2-butoxyethanol (0.5-1.5%) - dissolution promoter
ethylene glycol hexyl ether (0.5-1.5%) - solvent
isopropyl alcohol (1-5%) - alcohol
ammonia - emulsifier
water


Windex with vinegar:
2-butoxyethanol (5-10%) - dissolution promoter
acetic acid (0-0.25%) - descaler,
ammonia - emulsifier
water


Stoner Invisible Glass:
isopropyl alcohol - alcohol
2-butoxyethanol - dissolution promoter
acetone - nonpolar solvent
water


Armor All Auto Glass Cleaner:
isopropyl alcohol (1-5%) - alcohol
propylene glycol butyl ether (1-5%)


Eagle One 20/20:
isopropyl alcohol - alcohol
glycol ether


Amway/Quixtar LOC Plus:
2-butoxyethanol - dissolution promoter
propoxypropanol
propylene glycol methyl ether
propylene glycol butyl ether


Amway/Quixtar See-Spray:
isopropyl alcohol - alcohol
2-butoxyethanol - dissolution promoter
ammonia - emulsifier
isobutane - propellant
anti-fog agent


Westley's Glass Cleaner:
2-butoxyethanol (5%) - dissolution promoter
isopropyl alcohol (5-20%) - alcohol
sodium alkyl olefin sulfonate (1-5%) - surfactant
other surfactant (1-5%)


3M Glass Cleaner concentrate:
2-butoxyethanol (20-40%) - dissolution promoter
acetone (20-40%) - nonpolar solvent
isopropyl alcohol (20-40%) - alcohol


Eimann Fabrik Clear Vision:
2-butoxyethanol (0.5-1%) - dissolution promoter
methyl alcohol (10-15%) - alcohol
isopropyl alcohol (20-35%) - alcohol


Glass Plus (from US patent 5254284):
silicone glycol (0.01-1%) - anti-fogging agent
xanthan gum (0.01-1%) - anti-fogging agent


Castrol Accuvision (rain repellent):
propylene glycol butyl ether (0-5%)
isopropyl alcohol (0-5%) - alcohol
ethylene glycol (0-2%)
proprietary additives (0-5%)


That explains "how" more expensive glass cleaners like ClearVue can outperform Windex. The mix of alcohol + acetone + PGME has a better chance than ammonia at cleaning random goop. A diverse set of cleaning agents is more effective against a broader spectrum of contaminants than a single cleaning agent. 

Chemical differences between  Rain-X and Aquapel (Castrol Accuvision)

RainX consists of ethanol (1-10%), isopropanol (75-95%), polysiloxanes, and organosilanes. An organosilane molecule has two ends -- the "silane" end electrically bonds to surfaces like glass. Such a bond is not easy break -- organosilane treatments can only be removed mechanically, by polishing with an abrasive and taking off some of the glass with it! (ClearVue will not completely strip RainX from glass, though it will thin down a thick application of RainX.) The "organofunctional" end both links with other siloxane molecules, and serves an application-specific purpose: in this case creating a hydrophoic surface that repels water. The polysiloxanes promote crosslinking (applying a better film).

Together, they make glass repel water. Normally, glass adheres to water; think of the meniscus you can see on the surface of a glass of water. But if glass repels water, water tends to bead up and roll off the glass.

RainX-type agents do seem to work as advertised, though it gradually degrades and must be reapplied. 

RainX is really good for side windows, especially on vans, minivans, and SUV's. RainX works well on side windows because the airflow goes right along it. RainX lasts longer on side windows because the coating does not get rubbed by wiper blades.

For this reason, some people will like RainX and some people won't. To be safe, first try RainX on your car's side windows. After a few months, if you decide like the RainX and don't mind maintaining it, go ahead and put the RainX on your windshield.

A professionally applied variation of RainX on the market is Aquapel. It's based on a similar silane (chlorosiline) that reacts more thoroughly with glass, making it more durable. Aquapel releases caustic fumes when it reacts, so use in well ventilated areas. 



6 comments:

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jeff said...

Aquapel was bought out by Trico Industries and is now called "Trico View". If you go to wipers123com, there is a product info page. fyi

auto glass cleaner said...

Wow!! I like it! Thanks for sharing.

Bakki said...

Why all talking about Aquapel only one " WoW"? I look at the picture and I can say, that the angle is not more than 105 degrees, there are products that give 110-115, but remain unjustly in the shadow.

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