Oils in Soap

I

imported_Intel486

New member
In the Autopia Guide To detailing under the wash section he says to look for a soap with "surface conditioners and natural oils." What exactly are Surface Conditioners and Natural oils?



Do they have a chemical name you can look for on the bottle or MSDS sheets? What exactly will it say?



I'm happy with the soaps I use (Meguiar's Gold Class, Pro's Cherry Suds, and Pro's Super Car Wash) But I'd like to know this.



Any Ideas? Please discuss.
 
Surface Conditioner: aka Surfactants. In my study on Z7 I found that it contained a water based surfactant which basically acted as a lubricant for the paint to make it "slippery" while washing it so the dirt didnt harm the surface. Also it nourishes the protection layer on the vehicle instead of removing it (the difference between "carwash soap" and "dawn dishwashing soap".) Thats about all the real value it has, IMO.



Natural Oils: basically yet again, something that nourishes the paint's protective layer. Just like some waxes contain carnauba oils which not only offer a temporary protection layer but enhance the effectiveness of a carnauba wax which has been placed on the surface (carnauba oil or other petrol. distillates act basically just like an IHG or #7 'glaze' on the surface.)



:xyxthumbs
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
Surface Conditioner: aka Surfactants. In my study on Z7 I found that it contained a water based surfactant which basically acted as a lubricant for the paint to make it "slippery" while washing it so the dirt didnt harm the surface. Also it nourishes the protection layer on the vehicle instead of removing it (the difference between "carwash soap" and "dawn dishwashing soap".) Thats about all the real value it has, IMO.



Natural Oils: basically yet again, something that nourishes the paint's protective layer. Just like some waxes contain carnauba oils which not only offer a temporary protection layer but enhance the effectiveness of a carnauba wax which has been placed on the surface (carnauba oil or other petrol. distillates act basically just like an IHG or #7 'glaze' on the surface.)



:xyxthumbs
Click to expand...



Alright, so when he says surface Considtioner he is really meaning Surfactant? They why didn't he say so :D J/k David
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:


Natural Oils: basically yet again, something that nourishes the paint's protective layer. Just like some waxes contain carnauba oils which not only offer a temporary protection layer but enhance the effectiveness of a carnauba wax which has been placed on the surface (carnauba oil or other petrol. distillates act basically just like an IHG or #7 'glaze' on the surface.)



:xyxthumbs
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'm also beginning to think all car washes have this content. If not "carnauba wax", then some other small amount of wax or protectant that sits on the surface like a super diluted QD or somthing. Someone here once mentioned how a neighbor who never waxed their car kept it shining well by simply washing it often.
 
I believe a surfactant is something to used to lower the surface tension of a liquid, i.e., to help the water 'wet" the surface (vice beading up). A detergent is a common surfactant, but usually not much of a lubricant.



I have no idea what typical chemical compounds make up a surface conditioner, but I believe a surface conditioner would be a product that puts something into, or on top of, the sealant.



For example, Eagle One Cycle Wash claims to use surface conditioners to reduce oxidation and inhibit rust.



Pinnacle's wash product claims to use coconut oils to lubricate and aid in preventing swirl marks (the natural oils).
 
lee said:
I believe a surfactant is something to used to lower the surface tension of a liquid, i.e., to help the water 'wet" the surface (vice beading up). A detergent is a common surfactant, but usually not much of a lubricant.



I have no idea what typical chemical compounds make up a surface conditioner, but I believe a surface conditioner would be a product that puts something into, or on top of, the sealant.



For example, Eagle One Cycle Wash claims to use surface conditioners to reduce oxidation and inhibit rust.



Pinnacle's wash product claims to use coconut oils to lubricate and aid in preventing swirl marks (the natural oils).
Click to expand...



I just looked up surfactants and you are right.



Here is a def. I found on the University of Sydney's webpage.



"From SURFace ACTive AgeNT. A substance which prefers to exist at the boundary between two other substances - for example, detergents have one end highly soluble in greasy, non-polar susbtances and one end soluble in water"



Also remember the autopia guide to detailing describes surfactants.



That is the information I was wondering about. Eagle One's Claim of a surface conditioner. What is a surface conditioner? Is it a bit of wax? A polymer or some sort? A silicone?



I didn't know that about Pinnacle's Wash using coconut oils. That is the information I was looking for. I'm guessing that is the type of oils David is referring to as "Natural Oils"
 
The oils are in all Meguiars shampoos.....the same oils they use in the #7 glaze.......these make it shine when done washing.....



little amounts but there none the less....
 
Three letters come to mind





PBS





Awesome conditioners in the shampoo, actually make a waxed finish look like it was just QD'd.
 
A surfactant and a conditioning agent are not the same thing. In fact, they fight one another. A surfactant helps release dirt. A conditioning agent helps restore some of the gloss and slickness removed by the cleaners.



:cool:



db
 
YoSteve said:
Three letters come to mind





PBS





Awesome conditioners in the shampoo, actually make a waxed finish look like it was just QD'd.
Click to expand...



I too like PBS Steve. I actually got it when you were in PBS preaching mode a while back.



I've used up quite a bit of it. In fact I'm almost out but I'm about to switch to Z7 anyway.
 
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