From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Article detailing a new finishing process called 'Resistoid', its properties, application, and uses.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 61\1\ scan0252 | |
| Date | 17th September 1935 guessed | |
| (Reprinted from Motor News). The "Resistoid" Finish. Details of a New Process. By "SPRAY-GUN" THE value of "finish," quite apart from its intrinsic value, as an aid to sales is realised by all connected with the motor trade and great interest will therefore be attached to the introduction of a new finish which has already proved its value commercially, although experiments concerning its further development and application are still proceeding. This finish, which is known under the name of "Resistoid" appears at first sight to be an enamel or a very fine grade of cellulose, from which in reality it differs appreciably. In the first place, the "Resistoid" finish differs from enamels or even cellulose in its method of application and on this account it cannot be sold in the same manner as these, goods or materials to be so treated being sent out to the company specialising in the process. Two methods are available for the application of the finish, one being a moulding or "tubing" method, while the other is a special process, employing high pressure spray guns. The aim of the finish is, of course, to combine decorative effect with durability, the former being assured by the fact that it is obtainable in any colour together with a brilliant gloss. As far as durability is concerned, the finish is non-corroding, weatherproof and impervious to most chemicals. In addition, it is extremely resilient, has a high insulative property and moreover is non-inflammable. These properties have been demonstrated by various tests. Thus, articles so finished have been violently hit by a hammer without damage, even where only one coat (actually about paper thickness) has been applied, while in the case of wooden articles, the wood itself has been dented without the surface finish breaking. Its resiliency is also borne out by its successful application to the covering of golf club shafts, where flexibility or "whippiness" is essential. Its imperviousness to chemical attack has been shown by soaking tubing so sprayed in sulphuric acid without injury, while scalding in boiling water has been found to only lessen the lustre, which incidentally, is regained by the application of a polishing solvent or wax. The insulating properties of the finish, make it extremely valuable to the electrical industry, it having been found that even a thin coating will adequately withstand 500 volts. The following tests carried out by one of the electrical manufacturing concerns on tubing covered to various thicknesses will therefore be of interest:— Thickness of Finish Covering Breakdown Time Clear 0·025 ins. 11,500 volts 15 secs. Clear 0·060 ins. 16,500 volts 30 secs. Black 0·080 ins. 22,000 volts 50 secs. Black 0·030 ins. 15,000 volts 150 secs. The application of the "Resistoid" finish is extremely wide and by no means limited to the motor industry. For road vehicles, quite an extensive business is already being done in the covering of steering wheels, handrails, door handles and window guard rails, its non-flam property being an attribute in this connection. In these cases, because of the enormous amount of handling, the tubing method is generally used, an average thickness of 0.06 ins. being applied. Incidentally, any article covered with "Resistoid" carries with it a guarantee against all reasonable wear, chipping or loss of colour. On account of its insulative properties, it has already been specified for the covering of switch dollies as used on motor buses. One rather remarkable feature of the "Resistoid" finish is the fact that colours can be superimposed on one another and because of this, quite a business is developing in the supplying of signs, etc., which when completely covered never require replenishing and are cleaned instead of stained or rotted by the rain. The possibilities of this finish as applied to sheet iron surfaces have yet to be explored, but already a small piece of coated sheeting has been bent back upon itself, without harm to the finish. Apart from its use in connection with the motor industry, the finish is being applied to many trades, while for hospitals and the like, its hygenic and resistant properties make it of great value. Its decorative qualities also render it a suitable medium for use in the planning of architectural display. | ||