Introduction:
Pikal® paste is not just another metal polish: It is a superb metal polish.
It has been formulated with an abrasive system that will not scratch highly polished surfaces
being exposed to conditions of UHV and it contains a carrier (e. g. the suspending liquid) that
quickly evaporates leaving a surface that, when reinserted into the UHV environment, will quickly
pump down and not present problems with long time off-gassing.
If you don't need this kind of performance in a metal polish, and there are many who do not, then we
would suggest you consider the lower cost Wenol® or POL® metal polishes,
also available from SPI Supplies.
Pikal paste has found a number of other applications where it has become the
preferred polishing aid when a high luster on a surface is needed. It is
used on metal door knobs, metal tableware including both silver and silver
plate, musical instruments, and other products made of nickel, chrome, and
aluminum.
Not for plastic surfaces!
The unique combination of abrasive particles that makes PIKAL paste so
effective on metal surfaces represents a hardness that is greater than any
plastic material. Therefore, use on a plastic will surely start to abrade if
not also scratch a shinny reflective surface. Of course, some plastics are
filled with hard inert fillers and might not be adversely impacted by the
use of the paste. But we urge caution on the use of PIKAL paste on plastics
and if you should contemplate such use, then be certain you do an
appropriate level of testing since only you can determine if PIKAL paste can
be used in that application.
Packaging Options:
Pikal Paste is available in both an oval tin (250g) and a tube labeled as
Pikal Care (150 g). The percent solids of Pikal Paste is slightly higher
and is formulated to be used dry. Pikal Care has a slightly lower viscosity
so that it can be more conveniently expelled from a tube. For some, there
is a preference for a smaller container and being able to dispense the
product from a tube. So although the two products are not exactly the same,
they are for all practical purposes, nearly the same.
Use instruction:
In our own laboratory, we like to use Pikal paste with a SPI-Wipes™ lint-free cotton wiper. We literally
wrap some around the fore-finger, taking up some of the paste, and then apply the paste to the surface to be
cleaned and polished. The unique combination of abrasive particles and organic extenders cause what seem to
be the most stubborn deposits for other polishing compounds, to literally just "wipe way" with one or two
"passes" of the finger with the wiper and polish. A second lint free wiper dipped in Asahiklin®
AK225 Light Duty Degreaser (or acetone) removes almost all residues from the polish and then a final cleaning
using an ultrasonic cleaner and Asahiklin® AK225 removes virtually all traces of the paste.
If you don't have Asahiklin® AK225, you can use as a substitute, acetone, however exposure
to acetone vapors is not desirable and should be avoided if at all possible.
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