Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] bubbles on dome

[Alan Winick <subguy33@yahoo.com>]

Rain-X. I think it was originally formulated for
glass, but I found a marine version suitable for
acrylic. Worth a try. Anybody else ever have this
problem?

--- Coalbunny <coalbunny@vcn.com> wrote:
> Rain-X?
> Carl
> 
> 
> Cliff Redus 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!?
> > > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo!
> > > http://sbc.yahoo.com
> 
> -- 
> "I learned this, at least, by my experiment: That if
> one advances
> confidently in the direction of one's dreams, and
> endeavors to live the
> life one has imagined, one will meet with a success
> unexpected in common
> hours."  Henry David Thoreau


__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo!
http://sbc.yahoo.com