Why do dry-wipe pens stop permanent markers from working on a whiteboard? Bonus question: How can you counteract this effect?
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The ink in dry erase pens are suspended in a solvent, and when the solvent dries it leaves behind the dry ink. This ink can just be wiped away because it’s not absorbed into the dry erase board.
Permanent markers work the same way, except the ink doesn’t wipe away. It still doesn’t get absorbed into the dry erase board but it doesn’t wipe away because of its formulation.
Long story short, the solvent in the dry erase marker ink also works on permanent marker ink, and then the permanent marker ink binds to the dry erase ink instead of the board.
To answer your second question, there are industrial sharpies that use different solvents that might prevent erasing on a white board.
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