Anti-graffiti Protection

The proliferation of graffiti in our cities is an ever-more common phenomenon. Walls, urban fittings and vehicles are increasingly infected by this latter-day plague.
The method of removing graffiti is determined by the type of surface upon which it has been left.
Broadly speaking, there are two types of surface: porous (brickwork, stone, concrete, marble, pavements, etc.) and non-porous (plastic, glass, metal, etc.).

· Porous surfaces – In this case, the method normally employed is removal using a paint stripper.
For this, TURCO manufactures a powerful stripping gel, applied with a brush, which causes the layer of paint to blister and peel off. This is subsequently completely removed with the help of a jet of high-pressure water.
Alternatively, TURCO has a range of ecological products which contain no harmful ingredients such as methylene chloride or phenyls. They are used in a similar way to the above gel, although their stripping action may be somewhat slower. However, they are safer for both operators and the environment.
One common problem encountered when removing graffiti is that of “shadows” or “ghosting”: paint remains which have penetrated so deeply into the underlying material that they cannot be removed by the stripper, which acts on the surface. The solution for effectively removing these stains is a chemical action which decomposes the paint remains left in the wall. Naturally, TURCO has also developed an effective product for this task.

· Non-porous surfaces – With this type of surface, removal is easier since the paint or marker ink does not penetrate the material. Cleaning is carried out using a product which dissolves the paint, which can subsequently be removed with water or even absorbent paper. TURCO solvents, which are highly effective, are commonly used for removing them from refuse containers and other urban fixtures, such as bins and recycling containers.

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
The definitive solution to the repeated appearance of graffiti is to protect the surfaces involved. The method consists in applying to porous surfaces a barrier which is impermeable to the different types of inks and paints used for graffiti. The film applied must be of low visibility and of a similar reflectivity to the original wall. When graffiti is applied to this protective layer, it can be removed with a compatible dissolvent which does not affect this protection.
TURCO produce and, in certain cases, applies, a bi-component polyurethane varnish which forms a transparent film (with a matt or gloss finish) which is impermeable to the most aggressive paints and pigments.
Cleaning is carried out using the relevant solvent, which removes the paint whilst leaving the protective film in place.