DSS-Ch.04.01 — Paint Remover / Solvent Bloom (matting / sheen loss)

Paint remover/solvent bloom is an appearance change caused by solvent-based strippers, thinners, or hot solvents contacting glass. Depending on chemistry, dwell, and heat, it presents as optical matting (sheen loss) and-in stronger cases-subtle non-directional micro-texture within a spill/wipe footprint. Classification is appearance-only per VIS (method-agnostic). Inspect after Non-Invasive Reveal under VIS lighting/geometry; record surface numbering and worked-surface status on Forms: Treat fresh/unknown liquids as hazardous; do not touch-document visually per site protocols.

• Irregular patches matching drip, wipe, or rag strokes adjacent to painted substrates; feathered perimeters or overlap lines from multi-pass wipes.
• Sheen/contrast shift in specular view; at stronger events, soft “milkiness” (matting) within footprint.
• May co-occur with softened paint films, adhesive ghosts, or streaks from re-dissolved binders.

Surface-catch class (MSRT)

• SC-0 for optical-only matting (no relief).
• SC-1 (slight) where very shallow modeled micro-texture formed after strong or hot-solvent exposure. SC-2 is uncommon.
• Perform one light, non-marring pass; polymer stylus if a coating is suspected. MSRT supports classification only.

Visual signature

• Footprint-bounded patch with soft edges or wipe overlaps; no chip-flank sparkle or linear abrasive tracks characteristic of mechanical scoring.
• No discrete pits/nodules (separates from hot-particle peppering).

Viewing / lighting

• Evaluate clean & dry at 12 / 36 / 72 in, normal incidence and oblique sweep (~60°-120°); use raking light to resolve matting or micro-texture; document distances/angles in-frame.

Location / access

• Record pane ID and surface numbering (#1-#4; laminate-internal). If fixed parallax indicates between-pane residue or staining, classify CAT-5 by location (out of in-place scope) and refer.

Mechanism cue (context)

• Nearby paint removal operations, open cans/bottles of solvent, rag piles, softened/“melted” paint edges, or fresh solvent odor. Look for wipe directionality in the footprint.

Assign CAT by appearance + MSRT + morphology (three-part cueing). Depth/relief ranges are indicative-field measurement not required.

• CAT-1 (Benign / non-relief): Sheen/tone shift only, SC-0; visible at certain angles, minimal impact at standard view. Indicative relief: 0-10 μm (optical).
• CAT-2 (Light): Subtle modeled micro-texture, SC-1, confined to spill/wipe footprint; limited impact at standard view. Indicative relief: 10-40 μm.
• CAT-3 (Moderate): SC-1 to SC-2 matting legible at standard distance across broader footprint or multiple overlapping wipes. Indicative relief: 40-120 μm.
• CAT-4 (Severe): Pronounced matte field with obvious milky scatter at standard & wide-field views (rare for solvents alone; consider mixed chemistry). Indicative relief: 120-300 μm+.
• CAT-5 (by condition/location): Between-pane/inaccessible by parallax, integrity indicators (active cracks/pane movement), or confirmed functional-coating loss on the surface to be worked → CAT-5 (non-repairable/out of in-place scope).

CAT is appearance-based; acceptance is separate under VIS-A at 12/36/72 in. Do not “probe” with MSRT.

• vs. Adhesive remover staining (Ch.04.02): Adhesive removers often leave directional wipe veils that clear with correct film lifting; solvent bloom shows persistent sheen loss and may show SC-1 on the substrate.
• vs. Degreaser/alkaline cleaner burn (Ch.04.03): Alkaline burns trend toward grainy micro-texture and can align with run sheets; solvent blooms are footprint/wipe bounded with softer interiors.
• vs. Residue films (R-family): Paint or adhesive overspray/films remove at reveal and read SC-0 on substrate; bloom persists as optical matting ± SC-1.
• vs. Mechanical abrasion (M.02.01 swirls): Abrasive swirls show directional arcs/tracks with edge sparkle and SC-1/SC-2 along paths; bloom lacks linear pathing and chip flanks.
• vs. Coating anomalies (Co-family): Coating rub/patchiness presents sheen/color shift but is tied to coated faces; on a worked coated surface, any anomaly is not permitted at acceptance (VIS §6.2.e). Confirm coated face.

• Photo set (VIS): 12 / 36 / 72 in, normal + oblique, with raking macros resolving matting boundaries/overlap lines; add context frames (tools, cans, work zone). Record distance/angle in-frame.
• MSRT result: One light, non-marring pass on footprint interior; record SC-class (SC-0/1/2). Polymer stylus if coating is suspected.
• Forms: Pane ID; product family & surface numbering; worked surface Y/N; functional coating present on worked surface? (Y/N/Unknown); reveal status; lighting/time; geometry checklist; photos attached.
• Acceptance split: Post-restoration acceptance per VIS-A §6; classification ≠ acceptance. Coated-face appearance rules apply per VIS §6.2.e.

• Ch.04.01 Paint Remover / Solvent Bloom - Footprint-bounded matting on surface #___ with [SC-0/SC-1/SC-2], visible at [12/36/72 in] under VIS geometry after Non-Invasive Reveal. Morphology: sheen/contrast shift, soft edges/overlap lines; no chip-flank sparkle or discrete pepper. Classification: CAT-[1/2/3/4] by relief/visibility; CAT-5 if between-pane, integrity cues, or coating-side loss on the surface to be worked. Forms + photo set completed; acceptance per VIS-A §6 (separate).