Masonry Magazine June 1979 Page. 27
Silicone Treatment for Perlite
Silicone treatment of perlite makes it water repellent, yet does not alter the material's other physical properties. Silicone-treated perlite is finding increased use in horticultural applications, such as a carrier for fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides, and as a soil conditioner.
Silicone treatment of perlite greatly retards the absorption of moisture. This is important in maintaining the free-flowing characteristics of the material. Untreated perlite can pick up moisture from the air and become sticky and hard to handle.
The silicone treatment is a simple process. The perlite is simply sprayed with a silicone emulsion and then dried. The silicone emulsion coats the perlite particles and makes them water repellent. The amount of silicone emulsion used depends on the desired degree of water repellency.
The silicone treatment is permanent. The silicone emulsion will not wash off or leach out of the perlite. The treated perlite will remain water repellent for the life of the material.
A quantity of silicone-treated perlite was repeatedly saturated with water and dried. After 75 cycles, moisture retention by the insulation increased just 1.5 percent.
Does Not Alter Perlite
Silicone emulsion is an ideal water repellent for the perlite. It does not alter the material's excellent 0-0-0 fire rating, its free-flowing characteristics, or its insulating properties. The only difference detectable between treated and untreated material is the slightly whiter appearance of the treated perlite, caused by the refractive properties of the silicone.
Perlite industry people commonly identify silicone-treated perlite by pouring a small amount into a cup of water. Treated perlite will float on top of the water more readily than untreated material.
Dow Corning 347 silicone emulsion is a stable, water-dilutable, nonionic resin that is highly surface-active and provides high water repellency, lubricity, and exceptional stability through freeze-thaw cycles. The silicone has reactive end sites on its molecules which permits it to combine chemically with the substrates on which it is placed, increasing its service life and making removal more difficult.
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Crane Safety Tips from PCSA
Set the Handbrake! Remember to set the handbrake of your crane whenever you're not operating the machine-regardless of the terrain, suggests the Power Crane & Shovel Association. It's a quick and easy step that could prevent a serious accident.
The 5 per cent that Spoils it all
If we examine the basis for the multitude of new laws and regulations passed in the last few years to govern American business and industry, we invariably find that they were written for less than 5 per cent of the people in that business. These are the people on the extremes, the ones who are always trying to pull something fast, to cut corners, to get by with shady practices. The other 95 per cent are law-abiding corporate citizens who would already be doing what the regulations require.
Writing and enforcing regulations for the 5 per cent of the operators who need this kind of coercion is plainly an inefficient way to go about the nation's business. Ninety-five per cent of the effort is wasted because it's unnecessary, and our economic system can't stand much more waste it's already at the breaking point. But protesting that there is no need for regulations is certainly unrealistic. This was the stance many in industry took for years, but that same infamous 5 per cent demonstrated that nothing short of some sort of regulation would make them curb their sharp and irresponsible practices.-Jack B. St. Clair, President, Shell Chemical Co.
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MASONRY/JUNE, 1979 27