Canopies and hydrocarbons

[brettpobastad 0]

A question...Will gasoline or motor oil degrade nylon?

I truly do not have a definitive answer. I believe that since nylon and fossil fuels are essentially made up of the same thing (hydrocarbons), they will not degrade nylon. At least in theory. That doesn't account for additives and detergents that may be present. Any thoughts? Has anybody seen any studies on this?

"It's only arrogance if you can't back it up"

[Tink1717 2]

Why don't you ask PD, Icarus, Precision, Flight Concepts or Strong. They ought to know.

Skydivers don't knock on Death's door. They ring the bell and runaway... It really pisses him off.
-The World Famous Tink. (I never heard of you either!!)
AA #2069 ASA#33 POPS#8808 Swooo 1717

[ps5601 0]

I can't answer for sure about Nylon and gasoline but as a chemist I can tell you that your theory is wrong.

For something to dissolve something else it need to be like for like. ie hydrocarbons dissolve hydrocarbons (gasoline is very good at dissolving polystyrene) where as polar molecules (ie water) are very good at dissolving other polar molecules or ionic species (ie alcohol or salts). However polar molecules are very bad at dissolving non-polar molecules (think oil in water).

Blue skies

Paul

[riggerrob 643]

Clean motor oil is unlikely to harm parachute nylon, HOWEVER, clean motor oil is rarely found on hangar floors. The motor oil laying on hangar floors is used and contains a variety of acids and unburnt gasoline, etc. that chemically reacts with anything it touches.
Hint, junior jump pilots spend every Monday morning washing soot and oil off the bellies of their airplanes out of fear that it will corrode aircraft aluminum.

As for gasoline ... I would not trust it near parachute fabric.
Hint: gasoline was originally sold as dry-cleaning fluid. Even if gasoline does not damage nylon, it will remove some of the UV, porosity, maybe even silicone, etc. coatings, degrading flight performance or longevity.

The bottom line is, when in doubt, keep strange chemicals away from your parachute.

[ZigZagMarquis 9]

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Hint, junior jump pilots spend every Monday morning washing soot and oil off the bellies of their airplanes out of fear that it will corrode aircraft aluminum.

Ah... the old "wax on... wax off" ritual...

Anyway, what's in Poynters (sp?) about this? ... and has anyone ever digitized that manual, yet??

[brettpobastad 0]

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I can't answer for sure about Nylon and gasoline but as a chemist I can tell you that your theory is wrong.

Who am I to argue with a chemist!

"It's only arrogance if you can't back it up"

[brettpobastad 0]

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The bottom line is, when in doubt, keep strange chemicals away from your parachute.

...with you on that. The safest place for a canopy is packed!

"It's only arrogance if you can't back it up"

[brettpobastad 0]

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Anyway, what's in Poynters (sp?) about this?

The Poindexter Manual seems to agree that hydrocarbons will not harm nylon parachute fabric. My belief is that clean motor oil will not harm a parachute and airplane gas will not degrade nylon. Would I pour gasoline on my rig or wash my canopy in Pennzoil? No

"It's only arrogance if you can't back it up"

[Hooknswoop 19]

Vol I, Pg 452
Vol II, Pg295
Vol I, Pg498; "Oil and greae appear as greenish or brown-black in color and look like tar. Often such stains will bleed through several layers of pleated canopy. Oil and grease may be removed with alcohol, lighter fluid, or other approved cleaning solvents. Use plenty of absorbent rags on bth sides during the cleaning operation. Carbon tet will clean oil and grease out of cotton but it is dangerousto use and not recommended. Nacto will clean silk.

Hydrocarbons are not generally injurious to nylon. Older mainenance instructions deeply concerned themselves with oil and grease since they delt with silk and cotton and because parachutes were often kept in dirty hangars."

Derek

[peckerhead 0]

Are you still trying to collect on that bet from Ty?

For what its worth I think you won.