cpoxon 0 #1 October 6, 2010 QuoteSmartWater is an anti-criminal system marketed in the United Kingdom by Smartwater Technology Ltd. It consists of a liquid containing a code which can be read under ultraviolet light. It is intended to be applied to valuable items, so that if they are stolen and later seized by police, their original owner can be determined. ... The "SmartWater Instant" variant consists mainly of a copolymer of vinyl acetate in isopropyl alcohol. This fluid contains millions of tiny fragments; a unique number called "SIN" ("SmartWater identification number") and registered in a national police database together with the owner's details, is etched into each of those particles Can anyone comment if it would be detrimental to the materials if I was to mark my harness/container with these chemicals?Skydiving Fatalities - Cease not to learn 'til thou cease to live Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
councilman24 37 #2 October 6, 2010 Probably wouldn't hurt it but we don't know every thing in it and nobody will have tested it. Mark a non critical area like a mud flap, main pin protector flap, leg strap pad, etc. Probably the label, big orange if you have one or smaller label with serial number would also be a good place. I wouldn't put it anywhere you care about the material or thread failing. How much do you need to put on? Analytical chemist for 30 years.I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jdathome 0 #3 October 6, 2010 Quote***copolymer of vinyl acetate in isopropyl alcohol My guess would be the "copolymer of vinyl acetate" is the active part of the compound? The alcohol would be the thinner, or carrier. When applied, the alcohol evaporates and the vinyl sets up to remain on the treated surface holding the little ID crystals. Isopropyl alcohol is considered safe. If you get sticky tape gunk on your rig, this is what you would use to clean it. I can't speak for the acetate? Where were you going to apply this? My thought would be to put it somewhere that wouldn't effect structure at all. Let's say on the back of the data card pouch, for instance. How big of an area needs to be treated? I would think a small area the size of a coin would be pleanty? If marking the canopy, I would do it on the mfg label. Read the label and perform a test on a small, non-structural, piece of fabric. I would tend to think this will not cause any problems? It sounds like a great idea! The only thing is you need to recover the gear before you can prove it's yours with this system. Hope this helps some? Blues...Marriage is like a deck of cards. You start with two harts and a diamond only to discover you wish you had a club and a spade! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #4 October 6, 2010 Craig, just a question. How do you see this being effective in recovering your skydiving goods? More to the point, how do the police know to look/use ultraviolet light on the object. In this case, to me , it seems obvious that if you property is stolen and you report a parachute rig has been taken and they recover a rig, how many rigs do they have in the evidence locker that this would be necessary if you have the serial numbers already?I can see how this might be effective for everything else in a house but on skydiving gear it seems a bit off. Have you contacted the company to ask for details about the chemical compound(s) used in the solution and any testing they have done on fabrics/materials? I am guessing that if you told them it was a life saving device and you need 100% guarantee that the compound will not detrimentally affect the object that they'd tell you not to use it."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
