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Re: Concerns about Silicone



Original poster: "Scott Hanson" <huil888@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

Kurt -

All of the hardware-store grades of RTV silicone sealant utilize a cure chemestry that releases acetic acid as the material cures after exposure to moisture in the air. The RTV compounds using the acetic acid cure system have a distinct vinegar smell.. General Electric has several different types of "electronic grade" RTV that release an alcohol during curing instead of acetic acid (RTV 133, RTV 160, RTV162, RTV167). The electronic grade materials are harder to find and quite a bit more expensive than the hardware store grades, but are completely non-corrosive.

I have always used the electronic grade material for sealing baffles in Tesla coil secondaries, but I don't know how much risk of insulation breakdown there is with the acetic-acid cure materials. I have hermetically sealed several different containers using the acetic acid cure RVT, and when opened months later the odor of acetic acid inside was overpowering.

Regards,
Scott Hanson
----- Original Message ----- From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 8:54 AM
Subject: Concerns about Silicone


Original poster: "C. Sibley" <a37chevy@xxxxxxxxx>

I'm thinking about using a couple of dabs of silicone
to affix the end caps of my secondary, but am
concerned that the dielectric might be bad.  I'd like
to use something that remains flexible so that I could
remove the cap if necessary.

I've also heard that out-gassing occurs as it dries
and that the residue might be of concern if it
condenses on the inside of the coil.

Need I worry about using this material in a coil?

Thanks,

Curt.