Abstract: Water-resistant articles such as automobile surfaces are protected against soiling from asphalt undercoating, paint overspray and the like, by applying a pre-coat film of polymer that is readily flushed off with water after the soiling exposure is terminated. Pre-coat is preferably applied from aqueous dispersion and has sufficient levelling agent content to keep it from separating into droplets when applied on a heavily waxed surface. Fluorinated surfactants, by themselves or mixed with silicone surfactants, are effective levelling agents. Alginate and half-acid half-amide 3-dimethylaminopropylamine-reacted ethylene-maleic anhydride polymers are very good film-formers, although others can be used. The film-formers are preferably heavily plasticized with glycerine or other water-soluble plasticizer.

Abstract: Water-resistant articles such as automobile surfaces are protected against soiling from asphalt undercoating, paint overspray and the like, by applying a pre-coat film of polymer that is readily flushed off with water after the soiling exposure is terminated. Pre-coat is preferably applied from aqueous dispersion and has sufficient levelling agent content to keep it from separating into droplets when applied on a heavily waxed surface. Fluorinated surfactants, by themselves or mixed with silicone surfactants, are effective levelling agents. Alginate and half-acid half-amide 3-dimethylaminopropylamine-reacted ethylene-maleic anhydride polymers are very good film-formers, although others can be used. The film-formers are preferably heavily plasticized with glycerine or other water-soluble plasticizer.