thin film formation inside a rubber tube to seal air inside.

[jryter]

I am trying to find a polymer that is water soluble that we can inject into a tube. The idea we had was that a cross-linking additive could be added to form a film on the inside of the tube. The purpose of this is to stop any leaks of air in the tube. This would be analogous to "slime" that is added to car tires to seal leaks. But we don't want a liquid. We were thinking the film idea would work better for our application...It needs to be a strong flexible film for joints in the tube (rubber similar to car tire). It would be pressurized 20-100psi. We are going to try many things including poly vinyl alcohol, alginate.... Ideas on polymers and how to get them to coat a rubber and plastic surfaces and then form the film all inside the tube?

Thanks so much. Jarral

 

[Compositepro]

Rubber is a cross-linked polymer. It sometimes gets punctured. Slime will seal punctures because it is fluid and not cross-linked. Perhaps you should rethink your logic.

 

[jryter]

Yes that is true. We were thinking that if it was a swollen membrane or almost gel like then if something poked through it, it would self seal or the gel would fill the hole. So something that would stick to rubber and be stretchy and a little sticky.... Just a crazy idea we were fooling around with... Slime has to be in contact with the hole so you have to rotate the tire to get it to plug the hole. We wanted something that was independent of gravity.

 

[1gibson]

Good old elmer's glue, based on water solubility requirement? If water solubilty can be overlooked, maybe plasti-dip with a solvent to thin it out during application. Whatever you use, will probably need to be 'centrifugally cast' to the ID by spinning the part until the coating has set up.

 

[IRstuff]

There are some radiator sealants that supposedly stop radiator leaks. Pretty gunky and nasty, but it's an option..

http://www.pepboys.com/search/?term=radiator+leak&omniEvars=radiator+leak&omniEvent=event1

TTFN
faq731-376

 

[jryter]

I had an idea yesterday of using thin puncture resistant films and cold press technology to basically make barrier. It may work. Any ideas with that?

We have toyed with ideas of poly vinyl alcohol mixed with latex to make it bond with rubber and then form a film....Some research articles have studied that. Either way a fun engineering project. I am actually working with undergraduate chemistry students so it is interesting... thanks for the ideas. If we get enough one will work!

 

[IRstuff]

"stop any leaks" is not equivalent "puncture resistant" A more precise requirement will result in more precise solutions. The latter would drive more towards aramid belted tire technology.

TTFN
faq731-376