Bio proof seal

[Tony]

Julian very kindly gave me some foamed orange gasket material to try as a gasket on one of my 500l steel drums - was originally going to flip both (one is already to make the processor) but it might be nice on the 500l settle drum if I could have a large bottom access port for clearing glyc.  If this material is up to it...

I've cut a strip and it's sitting in 100C bio + trace methanol as we speak - so going to find out if it can take the heat or not!

Anyway, cheers Julian, will see how it goes!

[Julian]

It'll probably go quite soft.

I think the 'plastic' point of PVC is around 180°C, so it may hold up as a compressed gasket.

I believe I'm right in saying that PVC sweats bio, but again, it may be ok as a compressed gasket.

The results will be interesting.

[Tony]

It has shrunk slightly and hardened a little.  It's still flexible and doesn't show any signs of becoming brittle.  I'll carry on subjecting it to the abuse expected of a settling drum gasket and take some photos.

[Julian]

Sounds good but don't publicise it virtues too much ... I can't get any more!

[Tony]

Do you remember what kind of material it is?

[Julian]

Yes.

[K.H]

It has shrunk slightly and hardened a little.  It's still flexible and doesn't show any signs of becoming brittle.  I'll carry on subjecting it to the abuse expected of a settling drum gasket and take some photos.

Hmmm,thought you were having a cold shower for a minute there

[Julian]

It has shrunk slightly and hardened a little.  It's still flexible and doesn't show any signs of becoming brittle.  I'll carry on subjecting it to the abuse expected of a settling drum gasket and take some photos.

Hmmm,thought you were having a cold shower for a minute there

What happens in your shower ... isn't "shrinking slightly and hardening a little" something of a paradox?

[K.H]

Not if its ingrowing!

[Julian]

Not if its ingrowing!

That's a picture that'll need careful eradication from the mind of anyone wishing to retrain their sanity!

[Julian]

Yes.

There's a tiny clue in the second post!

But to elaborate ... it's foamed, plasticised PVC, probably made by calendering rather than extrusion.

[Tony]

Can't beat a bit of PVC if the results are anything to go by!

[Tony]

I'm guessing this is the same stuff?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-x-White-Plastic-PVC-Foamed-Sheets-195mmx1220mmx6mm-NOT-Perspex-or-Acrylic-/230695668374

The sample strip I cut has had a couple of treatments of hot Meth laden bio and is still holding out though it has shrunk a bit.  This probably isn't an issue as a seal as it'll be compressed in use anyway.  So it's looking useful as a decent filler gasket material.

[Julian]

I'm guessing this is the same stuff?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-x-White-Plastic-PVC-Foamed-Sheets-195mmx1220mmx6mm-NOT-Perspex-or-Acrylic-/230695668374

The sample strip I cut has had a couple of treatments of hot Meth laden bio and is still holding out though it has shrunk a bit.  This probably isn't an issue as a seal as it'll be compressed in use anyway.  So it's looking useful as a decent filler gasket material.

No, that's rigid (very common in the sinage industry) the stuff you have is plasticised i.e. flexible ... and a much cooler colour!

[Tony]

Well many batches later it has hardened and shrunk a bit but will make a good bio seal, so it's going on my settle tank at the bottom to keep the bio in!