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The claim: Long Island,
New York-based Diamon-FusionUSA’s patented glass-treatment technology,
which has its origins in the automotive industry, will significantly improve
visibility through any boat’s glass window. It will also protect
the glass from acid rain, salt-related corrosion, and UV rays; force water
to bead up in large droplets and fall from the surface under any conditions;
reduce mildew buildup; and increase the lifespan of the glass.
So how the heck does
this reportedly “breakthrough” stuff work? That’s the question
I asked Diamon-FusionUSA national sales manager Lee Sparaco when he called
me to tell me about it. In a nutshell, Sparaco explained that the Diamon-Fusion
system operates on the premise that glass is not smooth but rather made
up of microscopic peaks and valleys. While some glass-treatment products
temporarily coat the surface, protecting the glass from the elements,
they wear away over time, leaving those peaks and valleys exposed. The
resulting crevices enable water to once again stick and streak and particles
to attach and scratch the glass. Diamon-Fusion, however, reportedly not
only fills in the crevices but actually becomes part of the glass and,
if regularly cleaned and maintained, should last for several years.
According to the company,
the “chemical vapor deposition process” starts with a thorough
cleaning of a new pane of glass (older glass reportedly doesn’t take
to the treatment as well, as it’s contaminated by the environment).
Next, a liquid catalyst is put on the glass surface, which is immediately
treated with a proprietary machine that uses nitrogen gas to turn the
liquid into a vapor. The machine, which resembles a see-through steam
iron, is passed over the glass (only trained and certified Diamon-Fusion
professionals can do the application), and the vapor seeps into and fills
in the cracks, chemically bonding with the glass. This bond is also said
to enhance the strength-to-weight ratio of the glass by as much as ten
times its normal capacity.
It sounded good, but
I was still skeptical, so Sparaco and Diamon-FusionUSA president Ray Doran
stopped by the PMY office with a brand-spankin’-new pane of glass
and showed me the chemical-bonding process step by step. The process took
about ten minutes (only half the pane was treated), and the duo then proceeded
to pour water over the bonded and nonbonded sides of the glass. The difference
was, in a word, amazing. The bonded side beaded up, repelled water without
streaks, and dried instantly. If I hadn’t seen the results for myself,
I would’ve had a tough time buying what these guys were selling.
Next page >
Part
2: The water streamed off like a sprinter doing the 100-meter. > Page 1, 2,
3, 4
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