Primer for Aluminum.... ever heard of this?

[bacafrog]

My Dad works in the aeronautical industry and gave me a can of Zinc Phosphate primer to use. He said they are starting to use this instead of Zinc Chromate. Apparently it is better in the Salt Water areas of the world. Since my boat will never see salt water I could care less. I am only thinking of using it to primer my sterndrive, before I repaint it. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

[ghamby]

Re: Primer for Aluminum.... ever heard of this?

What does the maker of your stern drive paint recommend?

 

[bacafrog]

Re: Primer for Aluminum.... ever heard of this?

Well I have tried finding an answer to that question and have come up with self-etching primer or Zinc Chromate primer. I also found a website were someone used the Zinc Phosphate with my paint, by the way it is Mercury Phantom Black. Website said they had good results using the Zinc Phosphate. I was just curious if anyone here had used it before, and what their results were.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Primer for Aluminum.... ever heard of this?

There is NO chemical reaction between Zinc Phosphate and aluminum..... is is nothing more then a primer.

Zinc Chromate chemically reacts with the aluminum and bonds.

Self etching primer is better then zinc phosphate however, the aluminum really should be treated with alodine first.

If you want to risk the entire paint job ..... please keep us informed with the long term results. There are ton's of testimonials here about the zinc chromate results

Just curious...... what type of aluminum is the aeronautical industry ....... most aeronautical top coats on things that fly is Imron.

 

[bacafrog]

Re: Primer for Aluminum.... ever heard of this?

There is NO chemical reaction between Zinc Phosphate and aluminum..... is is nothing more then a primer.

Zinc Chromate chemically reacts with the aluminum and bonds.

Self etching primer is better then zinc phosphate however, the aluminum really should be treated with alodine first.

If you want to risk the entire paint job ..... please keep us informed with the long term results. There are ton's of testimonials here about the zinc chromate results

Just curious...... what type of aluminum is the aeronautical industry ....... most aeronautical top coats on things that fly is Imron.

I did not know that about the chemical bonding. That's why I asked if anyone had used it before. I don't know what aluminum he is working with at his job. All I know is that he rebuilds aircraft engines, stunt planes, old warbirds, etc.

I always thought they used the Zinc Chromate primer, but I guess they switched to the Zinc Phosphate.

In the interest of science I will give the Zinc Phosphate a try. I am only going to run this drive till next year anyways. Yes, I promise to update any info I have about the outcome.

 

[bacafrog]

Re: Primer for Aluminum.... ever heard of this?

Well the real reason why I am gonna go ahead and use the Zinc Phosphate is I am out of money for another 2 weeks. That and I have to get something on the aluminum.

 

[bacafrog]

Re: Primer for Aluminum.... ever heard of this?

If all goes well I plan on painting everything tonight, and I was wrong. He works in the Aviation field. I didn't even think about it till just now.

 

[bacafrog]

Re: Primer for Aluminum.... ever heard of this?

As of right now the Zinc Phosphate is holding up great, except where the wife ran the boat through a sand bar at 30 mph. It took the black paint off, and left most of the green Zinc Phosphate on it. Looks like I will be re-painting it again in the off season. Right now I am not going to even worry about it. I will give another update when the season is over.