Well, here's how a chem major can give an answer, but not help- polyesthers have repeating esther linkages

l
C=O
l
O

So are chemically different than polyvinyls
which are repeating

CH2-CHCl units.

Polyacrylics are repeating 5
carbon units withn an esther bond, but that esther bond is not part of the chain linkage.


I'm guessing that a treatment for one of these types of polymer fabrics should be fine for all...

 

Check this thread out, about half way down

 

Don't you just luv being right!

 

andnow that we all know this, what is a good cleaner for the top???? i have this mark on the one side that i need to get off, i think some little kid put his grimy little hand print on my top and now i cant get it off, what can i use that wont destroy it????????????
thanks jen <3

 

Im with Jen.....a simple product name would be nice
...and my top doesnt seem to be as black as when I first bought it So hurry up wihtt hte answer already!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by s2oooboy
[B]Im with Jen.....a simple product name would be nice
...and my top doesnt seem to be as black as when I first bought it

 

I posted this reply on another thread, but saw this one too late...
So, I guess the question is, "What's the best cleaner/conditioner for PVC? I did a test with zymol "Vinyl" last night on the flat area
immediately under the back window that had some residue from the zymol "Screen and Lens Clean". It removed the tannish color
residue and deepened the black on the top, so I put some on the trim surrounding the entire back window and it looks like new again (back to black).
According to the bottle it is "a non solvent, non formaldehyde, glycerin and oil based conditioner that feeds vinyl by releasing trapped
solvents and restoring original moisture".

 

Yeah but you can upgrade to an expanded sheet metal grate rear window. I think there is a group buy going on

 

PVC is Vinyl, when somebody says Vinyl it is PVC and vice versa. Poly Vinyl Chloride is naturally clear, pigments are added to produce any color. Various levels and types of plasticizers are added to produce hard or soft/flexible formulations.

There is also a special type of PVC which is Poly Vinyladene Chloride (sp?) which is also called Tygon and is more chemically resistant. It is used in labs.

These plastics can be spun into thread which will look and feel like cloth. They can also be made into clear flexible sheets.

Solvents that will damage one formulation will damage another. Tygon is much more chemically resistant and the window could be this version of PVC but it isn't as likely. Some solvents will haze the plastic but not materially damage it unless there is long exposure.

Hugh

[Edited by hpalmer on 06-08-2001 at 08:56 AM]

 

In case there is any remaining question regarding cloth/vinyl just take a look at the inside of the top. There is an exposed edge that runs from just where the top locks to the front windshield and the first rib/support. If you look at it you can see that it is texture vinyl on a cloth backing. Those clever engineers at Honda.

That also might explain why some of the tops tend to get stretch marks near the rear window, the vinyl gets stretched and deformed and doesn't completely return to its original state when the top is put back up, hence some puckering from the rear fender up to the rear window.

I wonder what a real cloth top would cost, I seem to remember they are about $8K for a Karman Ghia or Beetle.