From: "Dana A. Dickson" <danaadickson@unn.unisys.com>
To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 09:48:38 -0400
Subject: RE: [baidarka] solvent washing fabric
>Here's a question about a minor detail....is it advisable to "wash" the
>nylon skin with xylene, or some other solvent, prior to applying the
>first coat of hypalon? I'm guessing the coating might adhere a tad
>better to the nylon, but maybe not - any thoughts on this?
>
>- Patrick Pierquet
>ppierquet@teltech.com
The best answer may depend on when you do the washing. If you wash the skin
with a toxic flammable solvent, like xylene, after you have stretched the
skin, you run a risk fire as well as, presumably, unwanted health effects.
Washing on the frame is also unlikely to remove grease and oils from the
fabric, it will most likely distribute the grease and oil on the fabric.
If you triple wash the fabric in a closed container before you put it on
the frame you will get more of the oils off of the fabric, but will
undoubtably put some back on when you handle the fabric to apply it to the
frame. If the fabric is cleaned before it leaves the mill home cleaning is
likely to have little effect on the bonding, remember the hypalon has
solvents that will change the distribution of small amounts of oils.
Dana Dickson