Report
#5: life-testing 3 adhesives/markers with rocks
Cadets
and technicians tested Smart GlueR, Ace brand water-proof
epoxy putty, and hydraulic cement as underwater markers/adhesives
on rocks and glass (SiO2). Shown below is the "Rock
Band" of technicians and engineers discussing what to try
next.
report prepared by MMA engineers:
3/C Holcroft
2/C Maguire
3/C McQueen
2/C Pike
3/C Sunde
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Smart Glue
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I believe that this adhesive has some potential. One
reason is that it actually stuck to a rock under the
water. The fact that it came in a pre-mixing chamber
is just icing on the cake. Its application was easy
and clean. Some observations: its smell was
almost not noticeable; it heated up after mixing.
I have high hopes for this adhesive.
TRIALS
The Smart Glue was used in four trials,
A.) Marking - Success
B.) Marking w/glitter - Success
C.) Bonding Glass (to rock) - Failed *
D.) Bonding Metal (to rock) - Failed *
* Samples failed only after having pressure applied
to the by hand. The Glass bond was broken much easier
than the metal, both failures where "failures of
adhesion" as the Smart Glue stayed behind on either
the rock or the glass/metal.
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Hydraulic Cement
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This week I used hydraulic cement and I found that when I applied it
to a rock under water, it separated. This process was ineffective;
it did not adhere to the rock. The reason I feel that the hydraulic
cement did not adhere to the rock was because it was a dry powder
mixture which became supersaturated in the water.
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Paint pen (Testors Co. #2503C)
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I also experimented with a paint marker that also failed to apply to
a rock, a piece of etched glass, and regular glass, under seawater.
I am unsure of the reason why the paint marker failed to mark these
objects while submerged in seawater.
We tested the Paint Pen. It marked the etched glass and metal tab
clearly,
but would not mark the rock or smooth glass. It has no adhesive
properties.
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Ace hardware epoxy putty #10232
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On October 2nd I worked with the adhesives produced by Ace Hardware.
The putty needed to be worked together until a uniform color. The
materials that were used (as adherends) were smooth glass, etched
glass, and thick aluminum. I tried to (bond) all of these to rock.
The application of the putty was done under the water, hence a wet
surface that was unprepared. The only sample that didn't stick at
all was the smooth glass to the putty; however, the putty did stick
to the rock. all of the samples were clamped together to aid in
keeping the samples together while hardening. Pressure in the
(contact) area seems to be necessary for this product. I also did
the same samples again but this time with a semi-prepared rock.
A plastic bristle brush was used to clean the surface of the rock.
The same results came about where the smooth glass didn't adhere
to the epoxy. The remaining samples of the 2 experiments were
placed in a minnow trap and suspended from the dock at the end of
Taylor Point (on the Cape Cod Canal). The temperature of the water
was 19 degrees centigrade.
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APPLICATOR
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An application idea is to have an enclosed cylinder
with a small electrical engine, a large bore screw, a
connecting tube from the bottom of the cylinder to the
top, and a hole on the bottom. As the engine turns it
forces the components of the epoxy down and together;
they circulate through the connecting tube until ready
when the bottom hole is opened and the epoxy is forced out.
My thoughts on an applicator, is that it must meet these
properties: 1. It must be made of inexpensive materials
2. It must be disposable
3. It must be able to mix both parts of the
epoxy.
My idea is to have a caulking-like gun, with a spatula on the
end for spreading and mixing.
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