Isopropanol

[saltyrob]

Hi,

I have read an artical which suggested using isopropanal to dry and clean fibreglass prior to using an epoxy filler.My questions are,has it got a more common name, and are there any drawbacks in using this substance.

Many thanks

Robert Hyland

 

[Freebee]

iso propyl alcohol also propan 2 OL - if you get some be very careful highly flammable

 

[Talbot]

personally prefer a quick wipe over with acetone to clean, then roughen with really coarse sandpaper then tack cloth to remove dust and then on with the sticky! seems to work for me.

 

[Vara]

Data sheet http://www.pcl.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/PR/2-propanol.html gives alternative names.I would use it in preference to acetone in the role you suggest.Acetone is widely recommended,but is a bit too "active" for my taste.
ie. a pool of acetone left on GRP could do some serious damage.IPA wont and will have largely comparable degreasing powers.

 

[mitustoni]

Mix with water 25 %( or less) isopropanol & 75 % water. As far as i know a mixture like these is used in a large number of home cleaners; specially as a glasscleaner. Good idea for fiberglass ( a product as "Glassex" maybe usefull).
Regards.
Toni.

 

[Danny]

I used to use isopropyl alcohol a lot in my job years ago and found it an excellent degreasing agent but beware: it also very effectively leaches the oils out of your skin so use rubber gloves or at least plenty of barrier cream.

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
it also very effectively leaches the oils out of your skin

[/ QUOTE ] Acetone is probably even worse!

 

[Frontier]

I cant imagine where you would get enough IPA to do a whole boat, they dont usually sell it in large quantities. We use it at work and it's in small cans about a pint dont know the exact cos its in some foreign kilolitres or something.

The most a chemist shop will sell you is a bottle the size of an aftershave.

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[VicS]

I'm sure it is available in almost any quantity you care to name. Certainly from 0.5 litre to 200 litres from lab chemical suppliers. The Highly Flammable Liquids and LPG Regulations will apply to its storage, and the relevant regs will apply to transport.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

The idea of acetone is that it gets the grp 'sticky' so that the epoxy, resin, mat you are adding becomes part of the structure, rather than stuck to the structure.

IPA is not the right chemical to use in this instance.

 

[jerryat]

Agreed! This is the (admittedly theoretical) process I've always followed, then, as Talbot describes, sanding, (I then wipe over again with acetone) tack-rag, and on with the paint system.

Worked for me for very many years.

 

[Poignard]

[ QUOTE ]
I cant imagine where you would get enough IPA to do a whole boat, they dont usually sell it in large quantities.


[/ QUOTE ]

Mylands Ltd ,[ 80 Norwood High Street, West Norwood, London, SE27 9NW. tel: 020 8670 9161], sell it in 5 litre containers.

 

[Frontier]

[ QUOTE ]
Quote:
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I cant imagine where you would get enough IPA to do a whole boat, they dont usually sell it in large quantities.



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Mylands Ltd ,[ 80 Norwood High Street, West Norwood, London, SE27 9NW. tel: 020 8670 9161], sell it in 5 litre containers.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good, they must have relaxed things a bit since I last tried to buy any privately. I was asked loads of questions about what it was for and where I worked etc. Maybe I just looked a bit dodgy /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif But seriously I remember a clamp down on it, mind you it was about 8 years ago. We can get it business to business OK.

 

[pampas]

IPA believe it or not is used in those little bottles of flavourings used for cooking. so it cannot be all that bad!

 

[roger]

Acetone

Acetone has a very low flash point so its very easy to set light to. Different countries have very different views about it. In the UK you have to keep limited quantities only in Steel cupboards.
In Norway you can buy it in 5 litre quantities in chandlers where its stored on open shelves in plastic bottles in wooden buildings!!

 

[saltyrob]

Many thanks for your responces, decision time now

Robert

 

[Poignard]

Just noticed your post. I buy it to use in my work and have bought some in the last few months. I didn't know Mylands wouldn't sell it to private individuals.

 

[scuby]

Also known as rubbing alcohol. An excellent degreaser with less drawbacks than methanol or ethanol. Used for cleaning the likes of tape deck heads and other electronics. I agree acetone is best but can be a bit of a problem in confined spaces. Buy it mail order from CFS supplies here http://www.cfsnet.co.uk/acatalog/CFS_Catalogue__CLEANERS_47.html

Cheers

 

[VicS]

Re: Acetone

In the work place storage has to be in accordance with the Highly flammable liquids and LPG regs. The amount permitted in a steel cabinet is limited but it is quite a few litres. ( I forget the amount now but it is almost as much as you can get in a half size office cabinet.) You are allowed bottles "on the shelf" up to 500ml capacity but you can have more than one, in fact I don't remember there being a limit. Larger quantities can be stored outside in a store. Both acetone (correctly called propanone!) and propan-2-ol (iso propyl alcohol, or IPA for short) fall within the scope of these regs

Separate regs apply to the storage of liqiuds considered to be "petroleum".