Sunday, August 15, 2010

What you need to know about wax and paint sealants

There is probably no chemical used in the detail business today that is more misunderstood than waxes and paint sealants. When asked by the editors of Professional Carwashing & Detailing to do a story on these two products, the first thing I did was contact knowledgeable individuals involved in the formulation of these chemical products.
Kim Wilson is a chemist with U.S. Chemical and Plastics and has nearly 30 years of experience in the formulation of chemicals. Dave Phillips is a principal at P & S Sales and in charge of the company’s chemical formulations.

There is no function in our daily lives that does not involve wax. Formulas and variations are used as coatings to beautify, lubricate, laminate, and insulate. And, in detailing, they are used to protect.

The chemical and physical properties of waxes differ and vary. How the waxes are gathered, produced, and refined affects the properties and composition. As well, other ingredients used in the overall formulation affect the properties of true waxes. As a result, the term wax has been erroneously and carelessly used over the years, nowhere more than in the detailing business.

The various kinds of waxes
There are a number of waxes available that can be used to formulate a good automobile wax:
• Vegetable waxes; i.e. carnauba;
• Animal waxes; i.e. bees wax;
• Petroleum waxes; i.e. paraffin and microcrystalline.
• Mineral fossil waxes; i.e. montan;
• Synthetic waxes; i.e. ethylene polymers

When considering a formulation, chemists consider the waxes’:
• Hardening characteristics;
• Melting point;
• Water repellency; and
• Resistance to breakdown.

Most waxes will provide protection and shine for no more than 60 days, under the best conditions.

What is the best wax?
According to the chemists, when it comes to wax, there is no real advantage of one form over the other. Which form is chosen has to do with what the formulator is trying to achieve:
• A low cost;
• Ease of application and/or removal;
• Emulsification properties;
• Protection; and/or
• Gloss.

Actually, there is no difference between hard pastes, creams, or liquids if we are talking about true car waxes. Given the formula has a high percentage of wax; the form does not affect the product.

However, some spray waxes or fast waxes on the market have small amounts of wax and silicone in them so they offer very little protection and have little durability. Most retail, off-the-shelf products have very little wax and are loaded with abrasives, evidenced by the powdery residue present upon drying.

Sealant vs. wax
Since the term “paint sealant” hit the market, there has been a great deal of misinformation disseminated on the product. Some believe many of the manufacturers or marketers of paint sealants do this intentionally.

For those of us in the detail business there must be a clear distinction between these two protection products. You need the information in order to convey to your customers honest information. You know why a wax is a wax and what it will do with regard to protection and shine. The remainder of this article will provide you with similar information on paint sealants.

A sealant is something that seals. But if a wax seals, is it also a sealant? Technically yes, but typically sealing is not one of the requirements of a wax product.

Sealants may have wax in their formulation but because of the other ingredients; they are more than just a wax. If a wax has some of these other ingredients in its formulation then it is properly not a wax, but a paint sealant.

A paint sealant for the detailer is any product that forms some sort of cross-linking film over the surface of the paint that forms a durable barrier on the surface that will last for a considerable length of time.

What does a sealant contain?
Like waxes, sealants can include in their formulation solvent, wax, water and amino functional silicone fluids held in suspension by emulsifiers. They can take the form of creams and liquids.

You also will see ingredient terms like polymer and resins, or polymer-resins. These are marketing buzzwords.

The polymer
Wilson defines a polymer as a macromolecule formed by the chemical union of five or more identical combining units called monomers. Silicones and resins can be generalized as polymers. The list of polymers available to chemical formulators is practically endless.

Phillips also defines a polymer for us in the simplest descriptive sense: "Poly" meaning many and “mer” meaning unit. So, any chemical that consists of endless repeating identical units is a polymer.

Examples of polymers include polyethylene, polyurethane, and polytetrafluoroethylene. For example, polyethylene is simply many units of ethylene.

In the detail chemical business, the word polymer is the single most abused word you will find. For example, most of the thickeners used in detail products are polymers, which make it suspiciously easy to put the words “contains space-age polymers” on the bottle.

What is a resin?
Wilson defines resin as a semi-solid or solid complex amorphous mix of organic compounds; animal, vegetable, or synthetic (man-made).

According to Phillips, the chemical dictionary definition is so broadly used it has almost become meaningless. It is a catch-all term. To be specific, resin is a polymer that melts or is soluble in specific solvents. In some cases, the material used to make a plastic is a resin. If you see the term resin on the label of detail product how do you know what it means? The answer is: You don’t. In short, the use of resin, polymer, etc. is marketing jargon.

Silicone fluids
Silicone fluids are a relatively short chain inorganic polymer called polydimethyl siloxane. (Note the prefix "poly" before dimethyl siloxane.) Technically, a silicone is a polymer. So, to see the word polymer on a sealant label could mean anything as the definition becomes clearer to us.

The properties of silicone fluids range from very thin, volatile liquids that look and feel like petroleum solvents to very thick and heavy liquids that look like clear honey. The only difference between a thin and thick silicone fluid is the number of units in the dimethyl siloxane chain.

Almost all waxes and sealant products have some type of silicone fluids in them to provide shine and durability.

The amino-functional silicones
These are silicone fluids that have been slightly modified. The polymer content is different. The amino portion of the amino-functional silicone is what causes the silicone to crosslink and physically attach to the paint surface.

This cross-linking capability is what makes a paint sealant more durable than a wax. Typically, waxes only include standard silicone fluids. Therefore, they are not as durable as a paint sealant.

What is teflon®?
Teflon® is a trade name of DuPont Chemicals for a polymer, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). In spite of what some detail chemical companies may say, Teflon is a polymer that is not well suited for use in a paint sealant or wax because of several properties unrelated to its durable slippery nature.

Teflon is a powder that melts at 600° F or dissolves in fluorinated solvents such as Freon. Those are the only known ways to liquefy Teflon. If it cannot be made into liquid, it cannot coat or stay on a surface.

Can wax be put over a sealant?
Yes, if you have allowed the sealant to air dry for a few hours to let the cross linking molecules form. But why do it? The only possible reason would be to fill the spider scratches and possibly increase the depth of the shine on a black or dark car.

So which is better, a wax or a sealant? If you are looking for durability, then a sealant must be your choice. The best waxes will last maybe 50-60 days, tops. A paint sealant will last up to six months under the best conditions.

From a shine point of view, a wax might provide a deeper shine on a dark car because of the greater oil content. This is not to say that a sealant will not shine.

Personally, I prefer a paint sealant. Why? It goes on faster, comes off easier, and lasts longer. There is more value for the motorist and it is easier for the detailer to use. In some instances, you can put a coat of good wax over the sealant if you want to fill in spider line scratches on the paint. So, my conclusion is that a paint sealant is a better product to use than a wax in most instances.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

skype poor sound quality

There are several steps which may improve the quality of your Skype calls. Also if you experience audio problems with someone else on Skype we suggest you let them know about the suggestions below.

First, make sure you are using the most recent version of Skype as we are continually improving quality in each version.

Make sure all your computer's drivers are up-to-date (sound, video, motherboard controllers etc - please contact the manufacturers of your hardware for updated drivers).

Also make sure your firewall/router is not blocking Skype in any way. Try opening UDP traffic both ways to both the port found in Skype's "Connection" window in Tools > Options and also ports 80 & 443 - tick the option to use the ports and open both TCP and UDP traffic to all three - keep in mind UDP traffic's availability for Skype results in better sound quality than just data traversal over TCP. If you're not sure how to make such changes ask a tech-savvier friend or your system administrator for assistance.

Another way of improving quality is to shut down any file sharing applications or internet software that consumes a lot of bandwidth. If you are downloading files at the same as using Skype call quality will be greatly diminished.

If the above doesn't help to improve your sound quality try the following:

1. Close Skype. Locate the shared.xml file found in C:\\Documents and settings\Your Windows Username\Application data\Skype\shared.xml (please ensure you have hidden folders and files turned on - to do this right-click on Start and select Explore. Then select Tools > Folder Options and click the View tab. Under Files and Folders > Hidden files and folders ensure the Show hidden files and folders is checked).

2. Delete shared.xml

3. Restart Skype - the shared.xml file will be recreated.

Another possibility to improve conditions is to disable QoS (Quality of Service) packet scheduling. Go to Start > Control Panel > Network Connections. Right click on the connection you are using (for example, "Local Area Connection") and select Properties. Untick the "QoS Packet Scheduler" option.

Monday, June 14, 2010

人生從此轉彎的地方

一個不起眼的洗車廠,除了有傲人的發明,更是兩百位一度迷途的孩子,人生從此轉彎的地方。林博鈞的事業第二春,成就自己,也幫助許多家庭。林博鈞幾年前和工研院合作,研發這款奈米鑽石鍍膜,讓車子的鋼板表面,形成一層保護膜,不僅耐磨,還能讓上頭的水呈水珠狀,方便車主清洗,效果可維持半年以上。

客家電視台(客家新聞雜誌)專訪老爸的洗車廠

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

個人成敗之三要.環境.學校.父母

最近看了台灣作家盧蘇偉的傳記故事,非常感動,忍不住流淚。
據說聽他的演講全場沒有不熱淚盈眶的。
他小時候得了腦炎,父母都是礦工,沒有文化,以為他得的是普通的感冒,直到一個多月後他病危才被轉到了台大醫院救治。
醫生說他的腦子已經化膿壞死了,即使救過來也是個植物人。
他媽媽不懂植物人是什麼意思,問醫生植物人會不會喘氣,
醫生說當然有呼吸,媽媽說有呼吸就要救啊!
救過來之後,他果然是個植物人一樣,什麼都不會,無法自己大小便,無法自己吃飯……,

後來情況慢慢好轉,他漸漸地可以控制肢體,自己大小便,慢慢地生活可以自理了。
到了五年級,他父母堅持讓他上學,他回到學校,整整一年都在學寫他的名字,直到小學畢業,他還常常把名字中的“蘇”字中的“魚”和“禾”寫反了。
有一次一個老師對他說:“盧蘇偉你是豬嗎?
老師講了十多遍,就是豬也聽明白了,可你還是不懂!”
他一聽老師提到“豬”,立即高興地問到:“老師,豬在哪裡,豬在哪裡?”
老師氣得冒煙,罵道:“你怎麼會笨到別人罵你是豬都不懂,你真是個腦震蕩的豬!”
放學時,姐姐來領他回家,老師還沒有消氣,又把他姐姐罵了一頓,姐姐當場就被罵哭了。
回到家裡,跟爸爸說:“老師今天罵弟弟是豬。”
爸爸說:“如果弟弟是豬,那他就是全世界最聰明的豬。”
姐姐說:“比這還嚴重,老師說弟弟是腦震蕩的豬。”
爸爸回答:“別人腦震盪是越震越糊塗,你弟弟是越震越聰明。”
他爸爸掛在嘴上的話就是:“阿偉你很聰明,你越來越聰明,全世界你最聰明。”
http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/weiju999-enjoylife/article?mid=1025&prev=-1&next=1020
http://weijeng.blogspot.com/2010/05/blog-post.html

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

新竹汽車美容手工洗車

新竹有一位汽車美容老闆,數年來,輔導超過200位中輟少年回學校唸書,或到社會工作。但還是有少年不服管教,找人來打他,把老闆打得頭破血流,縫了10多針,他還是不放棄,精神令人感動。 新竹工研院附近的洗車廠,引進工研院科技研發的汽車美容技術,以奈米細微顆粒在鍍金上噴出保護膜,可以避免鍍金刮傷,雨水、灰塵從此不易附著。TVBS 電視台【一步一腳印 發現新台灣】主持人在99年報導介紹 - 洗車廠以及那些迷途知反的年輕朋友

--> --> --> 推薦閱讀:
1:  泳輪汽車-歡迎光臨泳輪汽車,新竹專業修車廠負責BMW,賓士,保時捷及各式國產汽車等產品開發,原廠電腦保養維修改裝,各式汽車精品以及進口外匯車買賣等服務
2. 新竹汽車保養廠-泳輪汽車位於新竹科學園區及工研院附近,鄰近竹北竹東,感謝新竹車友推薦泳輪汽車修理廠
3. 汽車保養項目表(汽車保養里程數紀錄表)-不要忘了為愛車做汽車定期保養
4. 新竹汽車冷氣維修保養-您想解決汽車冷氣不冷或汽車冷氣不夠冷嗎? 推薦新竹修汽車冷氣來泳倫汽車保養廠
5. 新竹免費汽車道路救援服務-汽車電瓶沒電,水箱沒水,油箱沒油忘了加油,輪胎爆胎,輪胎爆胎沒氣,泳輪汽車隨時協助您的愛車脫困.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

台灣版的二○一二

像在推骨牌。先是台北市,過去六年內,幼托機構從一千家,到現在僅剩四百多家。接著,未來三年,全台國中小學要減招一千多班,學校周邊商店服務業,面臨經營危機。四年後,台灣人口出現負成長。錄取率逼近百分之百的大學,十年內將倒閉三分之一。

之後,房市供過於求,內需市場乏人問津,大部份的公共建設,淪為人煙稀少的蚊子館。最後,每一個青壯年勞動人口,要扶養一.五個退休又無收入的老人。在街上和你摩肩擦踵的人群,有一半都超過五十七歲……。

大老級的人口學者、長庚大學醫務管理系教授陳寬政,一邊抽著菸,一邊憂慮地說,早在三十幾年前,他就預見台灣的生育率會往下降。「只是,沒想到速度那麼快,會變成全世界最低,真的很緊張。」已經當祖父的陳寬政,怎麼也料想不到,他做人口研究,會一百八十度大轉彎,從提倡節制生育的家庭計劃,轉為想盡對策刺激生育。

陳寬政計算,如果按照內政部人口政策白皮書的目標,台灣婦女生育率在二○一五年,要回到OECD國家平均一.六的標準(台灣目前為一.○二,見一○五頁表一),這就表示,每年要多生十萬個嬰兒。在未來五年內,總共要新生一百五十萬個嬰兒,才養得起沉重的未來。



奈米鍍膜 

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

高盛惡搞

美國證管會十六日控告高盛銷售一檔涉及房貸市場的衍生性商品時,未揭露關鍵事實並涉嫌誤導投資人,造成投資人損失十億美元。消息傳開後,高盛發布措詞強硬的聲明,反駁這項指控「毫無事實根據」。儘管高盛堅持是清白的,不過,這項控訴使高盛聲譽嚴重受損,上周五股價重挫近十三%,市值在一天之內縮水一二○億美元。

 此案被視為歐巴馬總統推動金融改革的第一槍,在國際上引起重大回響,英國首相布朗直斥高盛「道德破產」,德國總理梅克爾則指示相關單位評估對高盛採取法律行動,英、德兩國的金融監理機關都將針對高盛進行調查。

 英、德兩國反應如此強烈,不難理解,因為購買高盛這檔衍生性商品損失最慘重的兩大客戶分別為德國工業銀行(IBK)與荷蘭銀行,前者賠掉一.五億美元,瀕臨倒閉邊緣,後來由德國政府紓困;後者慘賠八.四億美元,被併入蘇格蘭皇家銀行(RBS),最後也靠英國政府以納稅人的錢紓困。





奈米鑽石鍍膜 

Thursday, April 1, 2010

贏得好口碑:非學不可的“部落格行銷必勝術“

2010年網路進入一個全新的行銷年代。台灣有1500萬人上網,有950萬人透過網路買一樣東西。網路商機已破百億,因此吸引台灣中小企業有上萬家透過網路開店,人人都希望成功讓網路人潮變錢潮,不過十家網路商店卻只有不到三家真的賺錢獲利!如何,成功吸引消費者的目光?讓你從眾商家脫穎而出!不只是網路開店需要!!要贏過競爭對手,大小企業都需要掌握贏得網友口碑的成功關鍵!


奈米鑽石鍍膜 

Thursday, February 4, 2010

美股10年10大輸家:思科榜首 微軟英特爾入列

美國股市過去 10 年風雲,究竟誰是最大輸家?哪 些公司在這段期間市值萎縮最嚴重?《Fortune》公佈 這份美股前 10 大輸家〝恐怖名單〞,其中網絡系統設 備業龍頭思科 (Cisco) 高居榜首,並赫見科技大廠微 軟 (Microsoft) 及英特爾 (Intel)。

以下按照各企業過去 10 年市值萎縮金額,由多至 少排列:

第一名:思科 (Cisco Systems Inc.;CSCO-US

市值減損金額:4250 億美元

最高市值:5570 億美元 (2000 年 3 月)

近期市值:1320 億美元

思科與微軟、英特爾一樣,都曾是 1990 年代末期 網路泡沫時代的最大贏家;儘管公司依舊名列全球最大 網絡系統設備廠商,但其股價自網路業泡沫化後再也無 力恢復元氣。

第二名:奇異 (GE,General Electric Co.;GE-U S)

市值減損金額:4230 億美元

最高市值:6010 億美元 (2000 年 8 月)

近期市值:1780 億美元

奇異股價在上個世紀末,在受到非理性樂觀氣氛拉 抬竄上雲端;因此在現任執行長 Jeff Immelt 於 2001 年接任以後,股價只剩一條路可走─下跌。這一跌讓 市值跌掉了 70%。

第三名:英特爾 (US-INTC)

市值減損金額:4000 億美元

最高市值:5090 億美元 (2000 年 8 月)

近期市值:1090 億美元

儘管英特爾與思科及微軟一樣,長久以來是成功企 業楷模,無奈其表現仍無法滿足市場無理的高度預期。 該股於 2000 年 8 月創下空前新高後,分析師便開始 在公司任何消息中雞蛋裡挑骨頭;一個月後,英特爾〝 果然〞刪減成長預估,股價也應聲如自由落體下墜,至 今未能復原。(接下頁)

第四名:微軟 (US-MSFT)

市值減損金額:3900 億美元

最高市值:6420 億美元 (2000 年 9 月)

近期市值:2520 億美元

別看微軟股價跌幅驚人,它目前仍是市值第 2 高 的美國企業,僅次於美國能源巨擘艾克森美孚 (Exxon Mobil Corp.﹔XOM-US。不過,微軟與好兄弟英特爾一 樣,皆曾花大錢購買庫藏股,但仍無助提振股價。公司 曾於 2008 年秋天表示,過去 5 年間共耗資 1150 億 美元購買庫藏股及股利,但這段期間內股價依舊持平。

第五名:北電 (Nortel Networks Corp.)

市值減損金額:2830 億美元

最高市值:2830 億美元 (2000 年 7 月)

近期市值:0 美元 (2009 年 1 月聲請破產)

加拿大通訊設備大廠北電曾風光一時,名列全球最 熱門股票行列;然而之後卻不敵會計計算不當及錯誤業 務決定所掀起的一陣混亂,無法如前任對手思科順利度 過危機,終於於去年一月關門熄燈、拋售剩餘資產。

第六名:朗訊科技 (Lucent Technologies)

市值減損金額:2740 億美元

最高市值:2850 億美元 (1999 年 12 月)

近期市值:110 億美元 [2006 年與法國公司阿爾 卡特合併為阿爾卡特-朗訊 (Alcatel-Lucent SA﹔ALU- US)]

朗訊曾是 1990 年代末期電訊業知名成功故事之一 ,但不久後就因會計問題遭美國證券交易委員會 (SEC) 控告詐欺。公司稍後同意與 SEC 達成和解,但公司股 價之後也難再重振,並於 2 年後出售給法國對手阿爾 卡特。

第七名:AIG (AIG-US;美國國際集團)

市值減損金額:2390 億美元

最高市值:2420 億美元 (2000 年 12 月)

近期市值:30 億美元

這份名單若不包括 AIG,將令人難以置信。這間一 度是全美保險業巨頭的企業,卻在金融風暴中需接受政 府 1800 億美元紓困,才能維持生存。原來公司體質從 外部看來強健,但實際上卻是透過高槓桿來美化獲利, 並追逐風險。

第八名:美國線上 (AOL, Inc.;AOL-US

市值減損金額:2190 億美元

最高市值:2220 億美元 (1999 年 12 月)

近期市值:30 億美元

網路服務供應商美國線上在創立者 Steve Case 領 導下,曾建立起驚人的使用者市場基礎,甚至成為網路 連線的代名詞。不過在 2000 年 1 月,Case 卻鑄下大 錯,同意併入媒體娛樂巨擘時代華納 (Time Warner In c.;TWX-US,1 年內便虧損高達 990 億美元。所幸目 前公司已再度分拆獨立,希望能再創佳績。

第九名:艾克森美孚 (Exxon Mobil Corp.﹔XOM-U S)

市值減損金額:1920 億美元

最高市值:5090 億美元 (2007 年 12 月)

近期市值:3170 億美元

艾克森美孚自 2006 年超越奇異,便一直盤據市值 最高美國企業榜首。儘管公司股價跌幅,並未如部份大 型科技企業股 2000 年代初期遭遇的跌勢強烈;但公司 市值仍隨整體市場縮水。

第十名:世通 (WorldCom)

市值減損金額:1860 億美元

最高市值:1860 億美元 (1999 年 4 月)

近期市值:0 美元 (2002 年 7 月聲請破產)


奈米鑽石鍍膜 

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

行銷訊息表

網路電話行銷訊息表:
1、客戶姓名;2、職務;3、公司地址;4、公司郵編;5、單位名稱;6、電話號碼;7、傳真號;8、E-mail;9、網址;10、QQ號;11、客戶的通話的合適時間;12、客戶的需求;13、客戶強調的事項與特徵;14、客戶當前的服務商;15、決策者;16、客戶的言行。

1、您貴姓,在第一時間(先生,我可以知道我您的名字叫李。。。)或最後時間(如寄件信件,應寄哪個名字)。
2、問職務後要加以讚美。(請問您在公司負責哪方面的工作?)
3、公司地點、便於拜訪。(我可以知道公司的位址嗎?)
5、我可以知道你公司的名稱嗎?
6、電話(座機、分機、鄰座的分機、手機、家庭號碼)。
“請問你的手機是13-”
7、發傳真的秘訣:
①隨時隨地準備好傳真;
②給顧客看完的理由;
③問是否收到、清楚;
④必須看到並有回復;
⑤做跟進與追蹤。
9、網址:便於對顧客公司的細節---瞭解。
10、QQ:“喂,你QQ號是幾開頭的?然後呢?”
11、當別人說不方便時,說“請問什麼時候與您通話比較聯繫呢?”
12、客戶的需求就是客戶購買的理由。問問題:
①過去的需求;
②現在的需求;
③未來的需求。
13、顧客的需求就是客戶購買的關鍵按鈕:我們要捨得對自己的生命進行投資。
15、打電話要打給有影響力、決策力的人。
16、在打電話結束之前,問客戶的喜好:
“XX先生,順便問一下,您喜歡什麼樣的顏色?” 您喜歡什麼樣的運動?您喜歡什麼樣的音樂?