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Last week we described 4 competitive advantages of new Splice Shield™ over 3M's Scotchkote™, all relating to the latter's solvent content. So, why does Scotchkote contain solvent? Scotchkote uses strong-smelling MEK/toluene--or acetone in Scotchkote FD--as "carrier" solvents. The product is wiped on a connection, and the solvent evaporates, depositing the remaining sealing components. Scotchkote is approximately 25% solids--75% of the product evaporates! Their 15-oz can contains only ~3.75 ounces of solid sealant. Multiple coats are required to ensure a waterproof seal. Each coat must dry for ~15-20 minutes before the next coat is applied to achieve optimal results. Splice Shield is chemically very different. Its 2-part sealant formulation is 100% solids. Nothing is wasted. It doesn't evaporate and "dry", it "cures" without loss. One coating of Splice Shield is equal to ~10 coatings of Scotchkote. Splice Shield's 3-oz self-dispensing cartridge yields more seals than the 15-oz Scotchkote package. Both products are tack-free in ~20 minutes, but Scotchkote requires mores coats ... and more waiting. Competitive Advantage #5: Splice Shield contains 100% solids with no evaporated solvent waste. Competitive Advantage #6: Solvent-free Splice Shield has a mild odor for a more pleasant work environment. Competitive Advantage #7: Splice Shield's thicker coating requires fewer applications for immediate labor savings. Competitive Advantage #8: Splice Shield's lighter package saves on transportation costs. Competitive Advantage #9: Splice Shield's smaller package totes easily and saves on storage. Stay tuned for yet more competitive advantages next week. |
