Sunscreen Can Affect Colorbond
Current at: 28 July 2010
Many sunscreens contain nanoparticles. These are particles that are smaller than 100 nanometres (a nanometre = 0.000001 millimetre).
BlueScope believes that sunscreens containing UV absorbing nanoparticles of Titanium Dioxide (Ti02) and Zinc Oxide (Zn0) can damage the resins used in the paint, resulting in both gloss and colour changes. They also believe that both pre-painted and post painted systems can be affected, with damage occurring to residential post painted timber barge material and car outer skin panels.
Damage to the surface of Colorbond steel caused by contact with nanoparticle sunscreen products is not covered by BlueScope warranties.
Cancer Council sunscreen products do not contain nanoparticles.
Their products use ‘microfine’ or ‘micronised’ particles which are larger than nanoparticles. Whilst microfine particles are smaller than those used in conventional white zinc sunscreens they are larger than nanoparticles – usually in the range of 100 to 2500 nanometres.
Click the links below to go to the Cancer Council on-line shop or to download the sunscreen excerpt from their brochure:
Cancer Council brochure
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