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Pete's RV-8 Web Site
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Date: 8-5-2012
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Number of Hours: 2.00
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Manual Reference:
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Brief Description: Testing of vinyl floor material - 1
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Ok, I have run a series of tests regarding the vinyl material I intend to use on the cockpit floor of my RV-8. I tested two different glues, PLIOBOND and 3M Super 77. I have included pictures of both below. I found both cements acceptable. The PLIOBOND has to be brushed on so it is just a little harder to get spread evenly but it works fine. The 3M aerosol can be sprayed on very evenly but you have to guard against the over spray (it is VERY sticky). Both cements tended to soften my primer and paint but even so, they bonded the vinyl material. Two part epoxy paint may hold up better. Both cements worked the best when applied to scotchbrited raw aluminum. For my application I have decided to apply the vinyl to scuffed raw aluminum, then mask the vinyl material and paint around it. That will allow me to clean up any errant glue around the edges that oozes out with some acetone. For me, that means if these same cements are used in the future for upholstery side panels I may have to do some paint removal (maybe) on the fuselage interior side skins.
I also decided to do some tests on the vinyl to see how it might react to fuel, oil, and/or brake fluid. I took some pieces of the material and applied mogas, motor oil, and DOT3 brake fluid (not sure how different aviation fluid might be). Because mogas evaporates fairly quickly I also placed a piece of the vinyl in a glass of mogas overnight to check the effect. I washed the vinyl after 12 hours with soap and water and observed no adverse effects. The piece of vinyl that was left soaking overnight did show some effects. It appeared to harden slightly and even shrank a little. My conclusion is that it is durable enough for my purposes. As for its reaction to fire I don't know but suspect it would be similar to other plastics (probably not good). I did put some mogas on a piece of the vinyl and lit it with a kitchen match to see how it would react. As you would might, the gas burnt away too quick for the vinyl to ignite. However, if the gas was a steady leak the vinyl w
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Cements Tested
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Mogas, Oil, and Brake Fluid
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Folding Characteristics
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