Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: Atomic-S on 26/03/2014 05:06:29
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Observing that standard candle wax is a very good sealant against water, better than many paints, tars, etc., and can be applied in the molten state but does not remain runny when cooled down, unlike oil. I observed also that it does have the drawback that it is combustible (which of course, in not unexpected in candles). So, the question is, is there a similar material that is not? It would have to be liquid in the vicinity of 100oC, and solid but not subject to easy cracking at room temperature, and should not pose any serious toxicity issues.
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It is usually possible to select/construct a fluorocarbon or silicone equivalent to a given hydrocarbon, but without the flammability of a hydrocarbon.
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I wonder if there is anything like that on the market
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candle wax is less flammable than cotton or polyester, so if you are trying to making clothing water-tight, flammability is not a major issue. Cracking, however, is a major drawback with wax. There are silicone-based products on the market for water-proofing shoes etc., and as evan_au pointed out, silicone is less flammable than hydrocarbons.
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I've got a heat resistant silicone oven mitt, however, I haven't tried to actually burn it.
Another direction might be a low melting point solder. For example Wood's Metal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood%27s_metal) melts at about 70°C. See article for other low temperature solders.
Of course, some metals have a higher flammability than one might expect.
One might note that much of the flame resistant clothing is actually a treated material.
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A big drawback of solders is that they will not stick effectively to many materials, and tend to ball up due to surface tension which means that they will not penetrate and seal unless the substrate is compatible. Oxidation and dirt can be major obstacles.