Is Tyvek silicone rubber glueing possible?
Glueing of tyvek with acetic cure RTV silicone rubber only had moderate bond strength that required supplementary stitching to improve peel strength.
Tyvek is a wonder fabric that is used by many for outdoor adventure gear. Tie-outs and strengthened anchor point can make the fabric more versatile. Consequently, I thought it was time to see if I could glue tie-outs to Tyvek by glueing with acetic cure RTV silicone rubber.
I started by priming the surfaces with silicone rubber that has been diluted at about 1:5 with clean mineral turpentine (This is described in detail in my cornerstone post below).
The best bonding requires gently compression while the thick silicone rubber cures. Consequently, while the primer was curing, the clamping boards, non-stick polythene sheets, and the spring clamp were prepared. This was so that they could be applied quickly when the tie-out was ‘buttered’ a thin layer of the thick silicone rubber and put in place, as the rubber cures quickly once exposed to moisture from the air.
Whether I am sewing or glueing, I like to affix tie-outs onto both sides of the sheet. I think it applies the load more evenly. “Who knows, but I think it looks good.” The small piece of polythene sheet was put into the area where there should be space for a rope or peg to prevent bonding.
As usual, I tested the bond strength in tension and it was quite good. However, I could easily tell that it had poor peel strength. So, as for my other bonding that had this characteristic, I sewed the tie-out.
The machine sewing, after the glueing, was surprisingly easy and it also should be so if hand stitching was necessary.
I washed the above groundsheet to test the glue survival. The tie-out survived OK. However, the washing of the building tyvek (as shown above), changed it from having a smooth and shiny surface to a much softer, wrinkly and ‘hairy’ surface. I will do more test on the glueing of the new surface in this changed condition to see if the bonding is any better.
For a detailed description of these bonding issues for many fabrics and materials please see my cornerstone post:
DIY RTV silicone rubber uses for backpacking gear.
Tim
