subsecret
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Fiberglass Cloth - Available in the US
Just to bring this to the attention of anybody who is interested, I discovered some fiberglass repair cloth at my local Lowe's hardware store, and
also at another one, halfway across the country. I immediately bought a package, and upon opening it, discovered that it was about half a square meter
of very clean cloth. I encourage you to look for it in your local hardware stores, as it's better than aluminum foil for insulation.
Just wanted to bring this to your attention.
Fear is what you get when caution wasn't enough.
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mnick12
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Thanks! That is good to know.
Is it contaminated in any way with plastics or resins? Or is it pure fiber glass?
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WGTR
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Professional boating stores also sell it, since there is a lot of fiberglass in the boating world. I know I've seen it at West Marine.
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forgottenpassword
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You get them practically anywhere that sells polish and waxes and things to rub onto your car - they'll have fibreglass and fibreglass repair kits and
the like.
It's handy as a fire blanket too. Once I had a pan of very hot Vaseline set on fire. Luckily I'd had my industrial fire safety training, and calmly
and profesionally wrapped the sheet over the pan. Good thing to have around. I don't know what I would have done otherwise.
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careysub
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Quote: Originally posted by mnick12  | Thanks! That is good to know.
Is it contaminated in any way with plastics or resins? Or is it pure fiber glass? |
It is pure glass cloth.
If it weren't it would be useless to the people who use it to make composites since a wide variety of different resins are in use (polyester, vinyl
ester, epoxy).
Non-woven glass mat is coated with a binder and can only be used with polyester resin as a result.
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Magpie
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I have bought the Bondo fiberglass at an auto parts store.
Member ordenblitz told how to make nice flask insulation blankets using RTV silicone to keep the edges from fraying.
http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=6528#p...
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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subsecret
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Very nice! I actually have a "Thermowell" heating mantle, the kind with the ceramic interior and steel case, and I cut a square of glass cloth to line
it to pad the flask.
Fear is what you get when caution wasn't enough.
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Manifest
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Haha I can find this stuff in my attic.
[Edited on 11-8-2014 by Manifest]
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subsecret
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Actually, fiberglass that is used in buildings is sprayed with a pigment and a polymer resin. IIRC, the insulation batts are then sent through an oven
to activate the resin, so that the batt is stuck together. Also, it's not woven into a fabric, so it's difficult to make it into thin sheets. I used
to use this household insulation, but I discovered that the impurities would char after being heated with an open flame.
[Edited on 11-8-2014 by Awesomeness]
Fear is what you get when caution wasn't enough.
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Manifest
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Oh, I'll try burning it tomorrow.
Did you try building your own well?
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subsecret
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Don't burn your house down 
I did try drilling my own well, but I hit a rock about 3 meters down. U2U me if you want to hear the whole story. We can make a section in whimsy for
homemade wells. 
Fear is what you get when caution wasn't enough.
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Bert
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After wrapping a 4000 ml beaker used in an improvised sand bath to dehydrate NAPA sourced battery electrolyte to concentrated sulfuric acid long ago,
I can verify that the un faced building insulation grade of fiberglass batting I tried to use had other substances in it that charred- No fires or
other issues prevented finishing the operation, but it didn't smell very good! (Considering the OTHER vapors coming off that beaker, this was the
least of my concerns).
Rapopart’s Rules for critical commentary:
1. Attempt to re-express your target’s position so clearly, vividly and fairly that your target says: “Thanks, I wish I’d thought of putting it
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2. List any points of agreement (especially if they are not matters of general or widespread agreement).
3. Mention anything you have learned from your target.
4. Only then are you permitted to say so much as a word of rebuttal or criticism.
Anatol Rapoport was a Russian-born American mathematical psychologist (1911-2007).
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Loptr
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After having sourced some woven fiber glass cloth I see it everywhere now. I also have purchased some red high-temp RTV silicone, so should be
constructing a few blankets soon, hopefully.
I do have one question for you guys. How would the RTV silicone fair with being added to a solvent to liquify it temporarily? I was thinking of taking
a tray the width of intended size of one side of the blanket, and then dip it a few times.
Would this work or will this have some negative effect on the RTV? From my minimal understanding of the RTV silicone, it doesn't require high
temperatures to cure, room temperature vulcanizing, and I am not sure if the solvent would be detrimental or not.
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careysub
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Being able to buy locally is convenient, but you can also easily order it.
Aircraft Spruce (local for me) ships a variety of fiberglass fabrics everywhere. Particularly useful I think is fiberglass tape, it is
selvage edged and so does not fray and which can be wrapped around most anything.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/categories/building_materials/...
Soller Composites has fiberglass sleeving which may be useful as well:
http://www.sollercomposites.com/composites/carbon%20fiber%20...
They have in the past also had basalt sleeves which are also very high temperature, but do not currently seem to have any stocked.
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careysub
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| Quote: Originally posted by Loptr | After having sourced some woven fiber glass cloth I see it everywhere now. I also have purchased some red high-temp RTV silicone, so should be
constructing a few blankets soon, hopefully.
I do have one question for you guys. How would the RTV silicone fair with being added to a solvent to liquify it temporarily? I was thinking of taking
a tray the width of intended size of one side of the blanket, and then dip it a few times.
Would this work or will this have some negative effect on the RTV? From my minimal understanding of the RTV silicone, it doesn't require high
temperatures to cure, room temperature vulcanizing, and I am not sure if the solvent would be detrimental or not. |
If the solvent does not evaporate before the silicone sets, it is likely detrimental. A very low BP solvent that disappears before vulcanization is
complete is probably okay. But you will need to test to confirm.
Low viscosity silicone RTVs exist, but they are specialty products and difficult to source for the individual.
Also consider silicone casting compound:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#=wnde71
It is a putty that can be formed by hand, and it good to 600F (higher than most gasket RTVs). Using this with fiberglass and a heating element might
might make good heating mantles.
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Magpie
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| Quote: Originally posted by Loptr |
I do have one question for you guys. How would the RTV silicone fair with being added to a solvent to liquify it temporarily? I was thinking of taking
a tray the width of intended size of one side of the blanket, and then dip it a few times.
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I think you are overthinking this. If you are intending to make a blanket like ordenblitz and I have made it is extremely simple:
1. Cut the blanket to size and lay it out on a piece of wax paper on a flat surface like your kitchen table.
2. Take the RTV and run a generous bead along the perimeter of the blanket.
3. Using a table knife or spatula spread the bead flat in a band about 1" wide, spreading it right up to the edge of the blanket. As you spread it
this way it will soak through to the other side somewhat, which is good.
4. Let it cure overnight at room temperature.
5. Take a pair of scissors and cut down through the middle of the RTV band. Discard the trimming. Done.
[Edited on 7-4-2015 by Magpie]
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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Loptr
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| Quote: Originally posted by Magpie |
I think you are overthinking this. If you are intending to make a blanket like ordenblitz and I have made it is extremely simple:
1. Cut the blanket to size and lay it out on a piece of wax paper on a flat surface like your kitchen table.
2. Take the RTV and run a generous bead along the perimeter of the blanket.
3. Using a table knife or spatula spread the bead flat in a band about 1" wide, spreading it right up to the edge of the blanket. As you spread it
this way it will soak through to the other side somewhat, which is good.
4. Let it cure overnight at room temperature.
5. Take a pair of scissors and cut down through the middle of the RTV band. Discard the trimming. Done.
[Edited on 7-4-2015 by Magpie] |
Overthinking... my hallmark.
I had read the silicone doesn't make it through the blanket very well, and you had to turn it over and apply to the other side.
(or at least that is what I recall from ordenblitz's comments :-)
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subsecret
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| Quote: Originally posted by Loptr |
I had read the silicone doesn't make it through the blanket very well, and you had to turn it over and apply to the other side.
(or at least that is what I recall from ordenblitz's comments :-) |
I had to apply the silicone to both sides of the cloth, and it formed a pretty thick layer. I used heavy paper to make templates for the fiberglass
cutouts, applied a bead of RTV around the edge after laying it on the cloth, and smoothed it with a piece of cardboard. When one side was dry enough
not to be sticky, I turned it over, replaced the template, and spread the RTV here in the same manner.
Fear is what you get when caution wasn't enough.
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Magpie
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Since I only applied the bead on one side the other side is almost bare. But neither blanket has frayed in the years I have been using them. The big
one is 1' x 2'. And I have a smaller one but can't measure it right now as it is in use.
I normally work with 19/22 size glassware. So, if your normal glassware is 24/40 you might want bigger blankets.
Edit: The smaller blanket is 1' x 1'.
[Edited on 7-4-2015 by Magpie]
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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Loptr
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These are excellent suggestions.
I have ran a couple reactions so far, nothing noteworthy, and primarily testing out my glassware and other equipment. Once I feel comfortable with my
setup and feel I have applied as much risk management as is needed to curb my own concerns, I plan to start documenting my efforts here.
The reason I have now focused on thermal blankets is the difficulty I have had with keeping the reaction flasks and columns a uniform temperature,
especially in cases where I am not looking for a gradient necessarily, and just want something distilled off as quickly as possible. Also, since I am
not using a heating mantle, but rather a hot plate, I am trying to minimize heat loss and increase the effectiveness in getting the flask up to
temperature.
I have been going through and attempting purification of solvents that I purchased from the hardware store. A preparation of fuming nitric acid took
forever just to condense approx. 75 mL, which I could tell was from an issue with having a consistent temperature from the flask to three way adapter.
I am working with a Corning PC-420D, by the way, brand new when I acquired it, and I know it works very well. I probably should observe the surface
temperature of the hot plate just to watch for any variances, as I guess I could have power issues. (I was observing the temperature at the top of the
three way and not the flask, and noticed variations in the temperature of the vapor as it came over--nothing significant, but it would speed up and
then slow down, and then repeat all around the same temperature.)
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Zombie
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It also works well wrapped around you columns as both an insulator, and as a safety blanket if a column should break.
It's easy to wrap a column 2 layers thick, and silicone the edge together.
Stainless steel wire also works to wrap, and twist tie cloth.
I buy this in 300 lb. rolls so I have glass coming out my ears. I use it for more things than I can list including packing my exhaust on my race
scooters.
I like the ideas presented here. Quite a clever lot!
They tried to have me "put to sleep" so I came back to return the favor.
Zom.
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subsecret
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I made a blanket that looks like the outline of a pair of pants, or a very square "U." This way, I can wrap it around the neck of a flask, and bring
the two "legs" across each other. This forms a conical shape that covers the entire top of the flask, while the neck protrudes from the now triangular
groin area of the cloth.
Fear is what you get when caution wasn't enough.
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Magpie
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| Quote: Originally posted by subsecret | | This forms a conical shape that covers the entire top of the flask, while the neck protrudes from the now triangular groin area of the cloth.
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Nice.
I have thought of making a blanket with a small window near the top so you can check on the progress of the reaction, distillation, etc.
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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