Archive

SPRAY-A-DIKE

Team Containment - New Pig Corporation

December 7th, 2006

Team Members:

Gregory Comstock

Justin Ritthaler

Jason Wright

New Pig Corporation is attempting to find new ways to contain and divert hazardous spills. One proposed method is to employ an expanding foam dike in an attempt to contain oil based spills. Our main goal as a group is to develop such a foam through reapplication, retooling, or creating a new product altogether.

The final design will need to expand to a height of 2-3 inches to allow for spill containment. The foam will also need to dry within 30-60 seconds so that it can be used as a quick response for spills. Oil solubility is also a major factor within the specifications set by New Pig. Specifications such as the ability to bond to any surface (wet or dry) and the design of a dispenser are secondary in nature.

Preliminary testing (expandability, solubility, and drying time) was run on common household foam sealant and insulation. Through this testing it was determined that these products would not meet New Pig’s specifications. A foam kit from Touch n' Seal was purchased and run through the same preliminary testing. This testing shows that Touch n' Seal's product meets the basic specifications set by the New Pig Corporation. The foam is tack-free within 15-20 seconds as well as a full cure time of less than 60 seconds. The height of the fully expanded foam is dependent upon the operator of the delivery system, but easily meets the specification of 2-3 inches for spill containment. The foam is also resistant to oil-based products. This product will be put through several other tests (such as density and shear strength testing) to determine if it will fit the final specifications.