Thinning Silicone: What works for Australia, The UK, India, Asia, Africa...

[@dchall8]

You are correct, as far as I know, about how cornstarch works with silicone. Back in the 90s I was a jet engine engineer for the Air Force, but it turned out that the Navy flew some of our motors. I got a call from a naval base asking about one of my motors that they were using on drones that ended up in the water. They were asking if they could use RTV (room temperature vulcanizing) "rubber", i.e. silicone, to seal certain electrical parts from the salt water. At first I did not see why not, but I looked deeper (and deeper) into it. It turns out that RTV products cure by absorbing moisture. Normally the source of moisture is humidity from the air, but if a moisture absorbing desiccant is mixed with the silicone, the silicone will draw the moisture out of the desiccant. At the naval bases on the Gulf of Mexico, humidity is a serious problem for them. The problem becomes timing because as the silicone comes out of the tube, it starts to "go off" to use an epoxy term. They could probably get it to stick to one side of their project, but if they were expecting it to seal like a gasket, they would really have to work fast in a humid environment before it skins over on the surface. I wrote them a procedure that included working in an air conditioned room with humidity lower than 50% to give them more time. I presume they found such a place and were able to seal their motors.

[@GEOsustainable]

Great story. Thank you for your service. As a former electrical engineer, I approve your solution. It took a keen mind to spot that problem. I will now recommend lower than 50% humidity. I am starting work on an electric car, I hope you will join me...and keep me honest. Cheers brother.

[@dchall8]

@@GEOsustainable Mine was an engineering application of RTV where achieving a good seal was critical. Most of what you do is "hobby grade" where it doesn't much matter how fast it cures or whether the seal is good under 10 feet of salt water. I have also used unadulterated RTV at the coast in marine applications to form-fit rudders tight against their gudgeons, and it worked perfectly.

[@lachyfaure745]

Alrighty, so anyone in NZ or AUS. Shellite is the go. I tried White Spirits and whilst it thins the silicone fine, Shellite just doesn't have nearly the odour... Also, make sure you're using 100% silicone. I tried being cheap and just got silicone sealant and it must've had an additive that just didn't let it cure for ages.

[@shivendrasharma9205]

Sir please use a separate microphone for clear voice. You are doing great work Sir 👍

[@GEOsustainable]

Very nice of you to say.

[@Mr.Caring]

What about using gasoline as a solvent for thinning the silicone

[@AngelWood961]

Thank you! If it can be useful in Italy: two months ago, after seeing your videos, I diluted the silicone with " acquaragia dearomatizzata " ( in english: dearomatized white spirit ) and it worked very well: I waterproofed a thin cotton canvas without changing its appearance and colour, it has only become more robust and is waterproof!

[@GEOsustainable]

Excellent news. Thanks for sharing.

[@mpozainno]

I live In uganda Africa and the most available thiner is Acetone.

[@GEOsustainable]

Does Acetone work? Thank you so much for sharing.

[@mpozainno]

@@GEOsustainable It works very well for me. I just have to mix it well and find a way to remove bubbles.

[@GEOsustainable]

@@mpozainno I did a video on making a Degassing Chamber with a Wet/Dry Vacuum and a coffee can.

[@ThomasAndersonbsf]

I still have to test my xylene for this, also what the heck is the hate in that comment 8 hours ago? LOL (one benefit for xylene I think over toluene is the much longer drying time which leave much smoother surfaces, something I found with pure xylene and styrofoam to make a paintable polystyrene substance, as it dries smooth and clear like glass. (something I read about for using as electronic dope, ie a coating to get a high voltage barrier for capacitors and such you can either dip or paint onto the items, *also called corona dope I think? because it prevents coronal discharges) New thing I want to try though is curing it as a painted on item while submerged between two plates that have a 35,000 volt charge and see if we can get a flexible electret effect for power harvesting from the air.

[@GEOsustainable]

WOW. You go man. Sounds interesting.

[@cvekcvek]

15:08 can or can’t used with vinegar? I don’t understand this part. Because we don’t have refined petroleum derivative in Bosnia but I need to acidic acidic. Should I use vinegar a bit mixed with lighter fluid?

[@babysmyle5899]

Can i use pure acetone to thin silicone down?

[@jeremiahbullfrog9288]

Gasoline (petrol)? Looks like it's just above or just below naptha, depending which chart I look at. I can give it a try and share results here...

[@GEOsustainable]

Sure can. Thanks for watching.

[@jeremiahbullfrog9288]

Gasoline had no trouble dissolving the silicone. Testing the curing process now.... 100g Silicone #1; 100g old Gasoline; 10g corn starch ; 1g water (added to the cornstarch for hydration. It was still a powder after mixing.)

[@jeremiahbullfrog9288]

2 hours later: it looks like it's starting to set (it's significantly thicker than when I poured, but doesn't hold stiff peaks).

[@jeremiahbullfrog9288]

Update: it hasn't cured yet. There is considerable shrinkage, and it's like a skinned-over pistachio pudding, except it reeks of gasoline. Not very high hopes for this one.

[@GEOsustainable]

@@jeremiahbullfrog9288 Gas is a bust?