Least Brittle Polymer, Epoxy, Resin, Clay, or Putty?

[Bayview-BOOM]

Hello

I want to cast a polymer, epoxy, or resin. It must be crack-resistant when compressed. Prefer a clay or putty.

I tried JB SteelStik, and it cracked under compression.

Don't need bonding.

Fancy expensive products are not an option.

Fyi, this is related to a youth engineering program i started, for at-risk teenagers.
bayviewboom.org

thx!

 

[btrueblood]

Compressed and constrained (like an oring in a groove), or unconstrained (like a flat gasket)? Do you want it to seal, or just bear up under the load?

Try using a rubber-modified or flexible epoxy, or a high-modulus urethane, if constrained. If unconstrained, either figure out how to constrain it (add a metal surround/shell?) or add glass fiber or other types of reinforcement to the mix.

For better answers, some pictures might help. If only there was a common device that almost everybody had, that could take pictures and upload them to this site...