Pressure will not affect the liquid phase. If you immerse the fabric in a silicon solution, that liquid and it's contents will not be affected by the pressure of the vapor phase above it.
/engineer mode off
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True 'nuff, MacEntyre... but vacuum is frequently used to remove (almost) all air bubbles from the materials that are immersed.
Tiny bubbles expand due to reduced pressure, separate from the material, and are removed from the material to be coated.
Just wondering if anyone has thought about trying Nixwax? This stuff comes in a lot of different formulas and can either be sprayed on or used in a washing machine to water proof frabics. I have not tried it but was thinking it might work.
Here is a link to one of their products for tents.
http://www.nikwax-usa.com/en-us/prod...?productid=502
Just thought I would throw in another option to this mix.
Chris
i believe nikwax makes thing water resistent rather than waterproof
what about mixing up a couple of small batches, adding a color to them, and then making your OWN camo sil?
--just buying the 1.1 camo ripstop might be easier, but this thread IS about making an already easily available fabric an MYOG project :D.
as well, I can never can seem to find a definite ratio of silicone:mineral spirits. 1:5, 1:3? Anyone have a dead-set formula that works? Thanks a ton!
cwayman1
I'm not sure how heavy it makes fabric or if it degrades fabric over a long time, but when I was in high school, I did a science fair project of using different waterproofers on ripstop to see which would work the best. Thompson's watersealer for decks actually was by far the best. It says it's not made for fabric so it might degrade it, but short term it worked great and got me third place.
My father used to apply it to his felt hat when he worked as a cowboy. It made the hat waterproof but also very stiff; so stiff that he used it as a hard hat of sorts, for protection from branches and such when chasing stray cattle out of the bush. I've not had much experience with it but I wonder how much elasticity it retains (i.e., how will it behave when the fabric stretches?).
I've been reading here in HF about using mineral spirits along w/ silicone. I've never used mineral spirits, but used to use white gas frequently as a thinner for silicone caulking. GE 20-year clear, in fact.
I'd waterproof my groundcloths for reenactment events -- others would be watching the water ooze through their canvas groundcloths, while mine coulda been used as a boat!
white gas dries very quickly, and worked great for penetrating the cloth.
Need I even say it... NO SPARKS, and DON'T DO THIS INDOORS! A single "forgotten" pilot light 2 rooms away could ruin your whole afternoon! :ROFL:
Has anyone thought about trying this with LEXEL (http://www.sashcocontractor.com/Home...ent/Lexel.aspx). I know its not a silicone but its some pretty tough stuff.
Just a thought.