Sun Clear Frequently asked questions
Special instructions for existing crops in a greenhouse.
Sun Clear can be applied by spraying, roller coating, etc., in a greenhouse with existing crops growing. We suggest that the plants under the roof area being treated be temporarily covered with scrap poly film in a drop cloth way. Any overspray drops that get on a plant should be rinsed off with water before the drops dry and might leave a mark. Sun Clear is nontoxic and we will supply you a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) upon request.
Duration of Sun Clear on film.
When Sun Clear is applied properly, it could last 2-5 years or more.
Climate conditions.
Once Sun Clear is applied, temperature will not affect the Sun Clear. Sun Clear concentrate should be protected from freezing during shipping and storage.
Sun Clear Failure.
Water test.
The first reason is water; did the customer perform the water test as noted on the literature? You can easily test whether water is suitable by means of a simple test.
Certain hard waters, containing excessive amounts of calcium or magnesium, are often not suitable for diluting SC. You can easily test whether water is suitable by means of a simple test. Add ½ of a teaspoon of SC to 1 cup of water (1cc to 100cc) in a clear glass or plastic container. If the mixture soon becomes cloudy and the SC settles to the bottom in less than 24 hours, the water is not suitable and SC will not adhere properly to a plastic or glass surface. Unsuitable water can often be made acceptable by adding 1 tablespoon fo white vinegar to each gallon of water (5cc t 1 liter). After adding vinegar, try the simple Sun Clear test again. If this second test fails, another source of
water must be found. Rainwater or demineralized water is ideal. Sometimes for better results white vinegar or citric acid can be added to hard water before the SC concentrate is added. Vinegar or citric acid is added to bring the pH of the water down, SC works best with a normal pH of about 7 - 7.4.
Oily residue on new plastic.
The second reason could be the plastic itself? Is the plastic new? When the plastic is manufactured, they often put a coating on it to make it unroll and not adhere to itself, this is called "SLIP". Usually the lower end plastic has more slip. New plastic in the winter will take at least a few weeks for the condensation to rinse this slip off itself. In the summer it could take a few months for this residue to wash off due to the lack of condensation.
When SunClear is dried after spraying process, is its adhesive strength and transparency still good ?
Answer, Yes. After SunClear is applied it will start working. SunClear will continue to function through the wet and dry cycles.
After spraying SunClear, can we maintain the status of wettable surface permanently ?
Answer, No, it is normal for SunClear to dry, when condensate appears SunClear will begin to function again.
In case we drop some fluid in the spraying process, is there any damage to the plant or flowers ?
Answer, In most cases No, but we have found that poinsettias are very sensitive and to be safe, I would cover plants with a scrap piece of poly. If SunClear gets on the plants and flowers, the normal procedure would be to rinse off the SunClear with water.
Please let us have your nontoxic certification for sunclear if you have.
Answer, SunClear is nontoxic, You can print a Material Safty Data Sheet (MSDS) off the web site.
Proper temperature for both water and SunClear in the diluting proscess.
Answer, Above freezing, do not let SunClear freeze
Special care in the spraying process? Answer, Make sure equipment is clean of any chemicals.
Storage period? Answer, Sun Clear can be stored indefinetly as long as it is not subject to freezing.
When should we start spraying after diluting process?
Answer, After dilution of Sun Clear is complete you may start using it immediately.
Delivery and Payment term? Answer, 30 days after bill of lading.
Sample, Is it possible for us to get a sample for a test ?
Answer, Yes we will send you a 4 oz. sample (enough to cover 1250 sq. ft. for testing along with instructions on how to use Sun Clear.
When Sun Clear gets frozen (Pt. Size) will the bottle expand and break?
When the Pt. Size freezes solid we have found that the bottle is not damaged and there is no leakage. Sun Clear expanded all the way up the neck of the bottle to about 1/4 ” from the top.
Is their any health risks to spraying Sun Clear?
No ill effects from inhaling mist; but suggest they wear a simple gauze mask. Chemically, it's just small silica & alumina particles, amorphous, same pH as skin. It's non-toxic; drinking it by accident will cause no ill effects, but don't recommend it. FDA has no jurisdiction over products like Sun Clear sold for commercial application. Sun Clear mist might irritate the eyes so goggles should be worn while spraying. Sun Clear as sprayed is 99+% water and probably just as safe as water.
Need to shake before pour?
Sun Clear should be shaken, or stirred until you get a uniform consistency before re-bottling or use.
What about disposal of original drums or pail?
Non-hazardous, landfill according to local, state, and federal regulations.
What about left over chemicals in the container (drum/pail)?
Non-hazardous, landfill or sewer according to local, state, and federal regulations. As long as Sun Clear is stored in above freezing temperatures it can be stored indefinitely. So the extra Sun Clear can be place into a smaller plastic container for future use.
Any attention/advise when re-bottling?
When re-bottling Sun Clear, adjust filling machine for a small amount of foam that may result when air is mixed with Sun Clear inside the bottle being filled. Sun Clear has a consistency of milk, when poured, a little foam may appear depending on the speed of the filling machine and how much splashing goes on inside the bottle being filled.
Sun Clear hitting purlins in the greenhouse.
When Sun Clear is sprayed on plastic, glass, metal or any painted surface it will transform the surface from hydrophobic (water beads up) to hydrophilic (water fans out). The condensation is still on the surface but in sheet form, in this way we eliminate the drop. Sun Clear will also increase light in your greenhouse because a droplet reflects about 50% of the light due to the mirror effect in a droplet. The condensation will run down the inside of the greenhouse until it hits a structure or bottom part of the structure. If a purlin is touching the plastic, the condensation will hit the purlin and drip from this location because the condensation will have know place to go but down. If the ribs of the greenhouse is touching the plastic, condensation will run down the rib ( which should also be treated with Sun Clear). There may be a small amount of dripping from the ribs due to the movement of the plastic over the ribs may ware off the Sun Clear between the rib and the plastic.
Faster drying method for Sun Clear.
After Sun Clear is mixed with water you can add isopropyl alcohol 91%. In the past we have mixed 1 gallon of Sun Clear to 100 gallons of water and 5 gallons of isopropyl alcohol 91% which reduced the drying time of Sun Clear.
Dear Per.
I would not use ethanol in the process of making Sun Clear dry faster. In the past we have used Isopropyl Alcohol 91%. The ratio should be 5-10% Isopropyl Alcohol and 90% water with a normal pH of about 7 - 7.2. Do not exceed 10% Isopropyl Alcohol.
For plastic use this ratio below
90 units of water
10 units of Isopropyl Alcohol 91%
1 unit of Sun Clear
This would be a 100/1 ratio
If you want to make the mixture stronger, add more Sun Clear.
90 units of water
10 units of Isopropyl Alcohol 91%
2 units of Sun Clear
This would be a 50/1 ratio
Can Sun Clear be removed?
Yes there is a way to remove Sun Clear from your plastic or glass.
Use white vinegar with a dilution ratio of 10-1. 10 parts water to 1 part vinegar.
