[ARC5] Tape

[Dennis Monticelli]

FYI.

I have used conventional RTV (with acidic acid curing) for 30 years for
moisture proofing external antenna connections, both soldered wires and
plated connectors.  I have broken down many of those connections over the
years and have not found ANY evidence of corrosion, just well protected
surfaces.  I realize that releasing the acid fumes during cure sounds
really bad and did worry me the first time I used RTV, but my experiences
have revealed no problems, at least not with common Ni or Ag or Zn plated
connectors or screws and lead-soldered Cu wire, including Cu-clad.

I continue to use conventional clear RTV for external sealing/protection
because it performs very well and simply won't degrade under years of harsh
exposure, including intense sunlight.

Dennis AE6C


On Thu, Apr 25, 2013 at 5:16 AM, Robert Eleazer <releazer at earthlink.net>wrote:

> In May 1986 we lost a Delta booster due to wire chafing through the teflon
> insulation, which produced a short circuit large enough to kill the engine.
>
> Experimentation showed that in a chafing situation with teflon insulation
> you will get a large short, followed by a couple of smaller shorts, after
> which the charring of the insulation leads to no more shorts in that spot.
>  Of course if its the wrong circuit in a rocket it may have been all over
> at the first short circuit.
>
> Some years ago I built a 2M 5/8 wave antenna out of 300 ohm twin lead.
>  SWR looked good.  Then I stuck it in a piece of PVC pipe and sealed it
> with RTV.  SWR went to hell.  Aside from that, the usual RTV available
> commercially evolves acetic acid during curing and sealing it inside
> something with no venting leads to corrosion.
>
> I made some multisection caps by sticking radial caps inside some pill
> bottles and bringing the leads out via some feed throughs.  Then I pumped a
> bunch of hot melt glue gun glue in.  Subsequent cap leak checks are a bit
> worrisome..  Anyone know how that stuff does?
>
> Wayne
>
>
>
>
>
>
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