Rich: So far as anyone has been able to find out, the "new" coating is a combination of a brushed aluminum panel with some sort of plastic coat on it. The theory is that the rougher aluminum will maybe bind the plasticoat a little better. Still is a really bad idea, because of the filiform problem, and I have NEVER seen any kind of plastic or synthetic that will not deteriorate in the intense UV that sunlight puts out. We have been fighting that problem for years in the boating business, and still the sun wins every time. I have to wonder how long the warranty on the plasticoat is, and how long this new goop will last before it too, falls apart.

In case you missed the filiform display courtesy of NASA, check out this URL about coatings on aluminum alloys:

http://corrosion.ksc.nasa.gov/html/filiicorr.htm

Hit the back button to go to the corrosion main page and the discussion of coatings etc. Really eye opening !

Doug