Why can “permanent” markers be erased by dry erase markers on certain surfaces?

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Why can “permanent” markers be erased by dry erase markers on certain surfaces?

In: Chemistry

3 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Permanent markers use a single quick evaporating solvent. Once it evaporates the dissolved solids are firmly attached to the surface.

Dry erase markers use two solvents, one quick evaporating, and a second that evaporates very slowly (over months). When the quick solvent evaporates the slow solvent remains, so the dissolved solids are left as a thick sludge, which can be smeared and erased.

When you rub dry erase over permanent marks the quick solvent re-dissolves the solids, leaving them suspended in the slow solvent as if they’d been dry erase in the first place.

If you leave the dry erase marks long enough the slow evaporating solvent will evaporate, leaving marks nearly as solid as permanent marker.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Permanent markers and dry erase markers have solvents that keep the inks liquid until the solvent dries leaving behind the ink.

Fun fact: you can dissolve the dried ink back into the liquid form again by exposing it to solvent by simply using the same brand of marker. This allows you to erase the dried permanent marker just write over the entire area then wipe it before it dries.

This won’t work if the surface is stained. Like with fabrics or paper. It will work on most smooth surfaces though.

Anonymous 0 Comments

its the solvents in one marker over the other….just like why does alcohol remove ink? its the different chemical makeups that will allow the pigment to release.