Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] bubbles on dome

[Alan Winick <subguy33@yahoo.com>]

Cliff,

Something like Rain-X, hm? I'll do the water drop test
then I'll see if that compound is compatible with
acrylic. I wouldn't mind applying it each dive day if
needed. Thanks.

Alan

--- Cliff Redus <dr_redus@devtex.net> wrote:
> Alan,
> 
> 
> A quick google search indicates that acrylic can be
> either hydrophilic (
> i.e., strong affinity for water) or hydrophobic
> (affinity for oils) .  My
> guess is that yours is hydrophobic.  You can tell by
> placing a drop of water
> on the viewport and observing if it wants to bead up
> ( hydrophobic) or smear
> out (hydrophilic). If its hydrophobic, then small
> micro imperfections in the
> acrylic viewport will contain very small air bubble
> that act as nucleation
> points for larger air bubbles.   If this is so,
> (just a guess) then, you
> might be able to use a product sold to make rain
> water sheet on windshields.
> This makes the surface, at least for a while, more
> hydrophilic. Auto supply
> stores carry this type of product.  Just a thought.
> 
> Cliff
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Alan Winick" <subguy33@yahoo.com>
> To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
> Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2002 5:23 PM
> Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] bubbles on dome
> 
> 
> > OK guys, here's another one to chew on.
> >
> > I use double bow domes on Explorer. The inner dome
> is
> > flanged to the pressure hull. Covering it is a
> 3/8"
> > free-flooding dome. It's good for impact/scratch
> > protection and also protects the inner dome from
> > fingerprints and oils from the public when the sub
> is
> > on exhibit.
> >
> > Anyway, I use Novus plexiglas cleaner/polish to
> > maintain both domes. When I submerge, though, a
> > stubborn layer of air bubbles adheres to the inner
> > dome. Can't reach them to wipe off! Any ideas on
> how
> > to prevent this? I thought of using some sort of
> > surfactant, but don't want to damage the acrylic.
> >
> > Alan
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Do you Yahoo!?
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> 


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