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Coating Claims a Superhero Substrate

Monday, June 4, 2012

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Note to self: Submarine paint is for submarines. Face paint is for faces. When in doubt, check the MSDS.

Remember that, and you may avoid the fate of an Incredible Hulk fan who accidentally used the military-grade version to coat himself in green glory to impersonate his favorite superhero.

Photos: Fabio Guimaraes/Extra

It took his Mom, girlfriend and neighbors two dozen scrubbings over two days to return Paulo Henrique dos Santos to his real identity.

The good news: Coating adhesion on Paulo Henrique dos Santos’ human-skin substrate proved excellent.

That was also the bad news.

Superhero

Hulk wannabe dos Santos, 35, a pool attendant and funk singer in Brazil, had bought the paint to join in the costumed throngs who run the “Challenge for Peace” race through Rio de Janeiro.

Although the coating wasn’t specified, he’d applied the same finish before, with no ill effects.

“I wanted the same paint I used last year, when I also dressed as the Hulk for the race,” dos Santos told Brazil’s O Globo. “But they didn’t have the brand, and the salesman offered me this other one. I didn’t see the problem.”

The episode earned Paulo Henrique dos Santos the title of “Hulk of Vila Cruzeiro.”

He did later, however, when showering after the race. The coating wouldn’t budge. Eventually, dos Santos learned that the paint was actually a high-performance protective coating designed for nuclear submarines and ballistic missiles.

Removal Options

Needless to say, abrasive blasting, UHP waterjetting and other standard coating removal methods were not options.

So dos Santos started bathing. And bathing. Over and over, with stronger and stronger cleaners, including detergent and alcohol. He used sponges and a toilet brush. (There was no word on containment.)

His girlfriend scrubbed. So did his Mom, and even the neighbors. Finally, two days and 25 baths later, dos Santos was mostly clean.

There, the whole embarrassing episode would have ended—had not some of his helpers taken photos that immediately went viral. Soon, the “Hulk of Vila Cruzeiro” was known worldwide.

“I’m never going to paint myself again,” dos Santos told the Brazilian paper. He said he had feared getting sick or not being able to find work if he couldn’t get the coating off.

He’s also considering suing the paint company and the paint store. Reports said that he had told the salespeople what he wanted the paint for and had tested it on his arm in front of them.

Comment from Gordon Kuljian, (6/5/2012, 2:12 PM)

This made my day. My guess is that it was a 2 part polyurethane. If so, the isocyanate would react with moisture in the skin making the adhesion even more tenacious. This guy will definitely have some skin irritation at a minimum.