Etching Primers are used on relatively new metal surfaces. These surfaces can be both both ferrous and non - ferrous in nature. Basically, these primers are used for surfaces that cannot be prepared by abrasive blast cleaning. The advantage of etching primers are that it can be applied with minimum preparation of surface, can be applied on various types of metals and the curing time is very less

However, the use of etching primers should be limited to areas that have low environment corrosion. Wherever long - term environmental corrosion is present, zinc rich primers should be used. Etching primers are not to be used on surfaces that have been previously painted