Possible encapsulation material?

[cby016]

The dap sounds like a good alternative. I was searching around last night and found some other possible alternatives.

Sashco (Sealants) 14010 "Through The Roof" Elastomeric Roof Sealant 10.1 Oz. - Clear

http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/productdetails.aspx?sku=1204445&source=GoogleBase

Sashco (Sealants) 14004 "Through The Roof" Roof Sealant 1Gal.

http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/productdetails.aspx?sku=1204460&source=GoogleBase

CRL Clear Dow Corning Silicone Glazing Sealant

http://www.dkhardware.com/product-17911-dc1c-clear-dow-corning-silicone-glazing-sealant.html

Elastomeric Epoxies

http://www.epoxy.com/elastomeric.aspx

[longwolf]

The dap sounds like a good alternative. I was searching around last night and found some other possible alternatives.
.......

Thx cby016,
You need to check them carefully and make sure they don't let off acetic acid which damages cells.

[DrRobot]

The dap sounds like a good alternative. I was searching around last night and found some other possible alternatives.

Sashco (Sealants) 14010 "Through The Roof" Elastomeric Roof Sealant 10.1 Oz. - Clear

http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/productdetails.aspx?sku=1204445&source=GoogleBase

Sashco (Sealants) 14004 "Through The Roof" Roof Sealant 1Gal.

http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/productdetails.aspx?sku=1204460&source=GoogleBase

CRL Clear Dow Corning Silicone Glazing Sealant

http://www.dkhardware.com/product-17911-dc1c-clear-dow-corning-silicone-glazing-sealant.html

Elastomeric Epoxies
http://www.epoxy.com/elastomeric.aspx

The gallon of the brushable sashco sealant doesn't look bad, maybe I'll try that on my next panel.

[smoothbrad]

A 2-part platinum-based (Addition cure) room temperature vulcanizing (rtv) silicone rubber is most suited because during the cure cycle this material will not exude any by-products such as acetic acid and alcohol, both of which are associated with tin-based silicones.

Platinum based systems do not need to be thinned out with any solvents either, and are considered to be archival in the sense that they will not modify or change over time. Solaris

[longwolf]

[QUOTE=smoothbrad;11737]A 2-part platinum-based (Addition cure) room temperature vulcanizing (rtv) silicone rubber is most suited because during the cure cycle this material will not exude any by-products such as acetic acid and alcohol, both of which are associated with tin-based silicones.

Platinum based systems do not need to be thinned out with any solvents either, and are considered to be archival in the sense that they will not modify or change over time. Solaris

[smoothbrad]

You are correct.
I come as a friendly contributor; I am willing to offer my 13 years of industrial silicone experience to this industry.
But if my presence aggravates you or anyone, then I will stay away from the forum.
Honestly, I posted this to see if anyone would respond.
So I must apologize, but I do not know the exact price right at this moment as I am at home on Friday night 11;30 pm. We do have pricing though and it will be on our site shortly.
Off the top of my head, I can tell you it is VERY competitively priced - less than the DC material for sure.
I will post the price soon this coming week... if ok.
In the meantime,
Would you like to try some?

[longwolf]

.... if my presence aggravates you or anyone, then I will stay away from the forum. .....

I can't speak for the forum moderators, but as long as you have a viable product at a good price and your not just spamming the forum, I'm happy to hear from you.

I will post the price soon this coming week... if ok.

Great!

In the meantime,
Would you like to try some?

Sure, I'd even do a test on it with my light meter.

[Mike90250]

But if my presence aggravates you or anyone, then I will stay away from the forum.

Contributers are welcome.. we just don't always get to it right away. Welcome

[DrRobot]

So. I got that liquid nails clear seal all mixed together with the mineral spirits. I used a whole tube of liquid nails and and a pint of mineral spirits, half of this:

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xj3/R-100251041/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

I put the mineral spirits in first, then I mixed in the whole tube of clear seal. I stirred it up, and then let it sit all night. The next morning some of the clear seal had settled, so I stirred it again, It resulted in a pretty good mixture, flowed probably as good as sylgard.

I poured the mixture kind of like that guy markp on youtube, like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Muwclw5oYd8

I had the same layout, 4x9, But I went around the outside of the panel, then went down the middle, and then went across each row. Waited, A lot of the bubbles removed them selves because I only went around 3 sides of each cell. Then after most of the air was gone from below the cells, I went down the 2 remaining gaps. Sat some more for most of the mixture to get below the cells then I fished out the bubbles. With the little bit of remaining mix, I poured it over the backs of the cells.

It's been sitting for about 2 days, it's still a little wet below the cells. They weren't lying on the tube of liquid nails, It does a little while for it to dry. But, it probably doesn't help that the panel is in my basement. It's not exactly warm or sunny down there.

[Mike90250]

slow dry is likely better, less stress develops

[Minnesota]

Great thread. I have tried to make sense of making my own panels but the numbers just don't add up, and the slygard is a showstopper as it costs almost $1/watt.

I hope you guys come up with something brilliant and one that works on a plastic front, such as Lexan which is cheaper than safety glass.

One tip to get bubbles out of your mix jar is to use a vacuum sealer like they do for food, .... just takes seconds.
Such as: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4Wk_0xVBbM
In use: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4qdgQPTvn4

Here is a good vid on how they make panels commercially - using films rather than liquids:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYeynLy6pj8

Tom

[Sizz]

You are correct.
I come as a friendly contributor; I am willing to offer my 13 years of industrial silicone experience to this industry.
But if my presence aggravates you or anyone, then I will stay away from the forum.
Honestly, I posted this to see if anyone would respond.
So I must apologize, but I do not know the exact price right at this moment as I am at home on Friday night 11;30 pm. We do have pricing though and it will be on our site shortly.
Off the top of my head, I can tell you it is VERY competitively priced - less than the DC material for sure.
I will post the price soon this coming week... if ok.
In the meantime,
Would you like to try some?

I'm very interested in the Solaris encapsulate from Smooth-On. A local distributer quoted me $78 for a 1qt kit which seems high considering Slygard is about $40 for a 0.5KG. I believe 1qt would be about two 0.5KG Slygard containers?

[smoothbrad]

The Solaris in a quart kit has product that weighs 2.2 lbs / 1 kg - it works out to $ 35.38 / lb.

This material is a platinum-based addition curing silicone. In fact this type of formula contains a high amount of platinum, which enable the material to cure without outgassing, or giving off by-products the way acetoxy silicones cure.

So there is no deformation in the cured rubber over a long period of time; archival.

[longwolf]

Thx Brad,
One concern, does being platinum based make it conductive?

[smoothbrad]

no, platinum based silicones are non-conductive