ATM SIlicone Adhesive

[Alan Salmon <asalmon@mat.army.defence.gov.au>]

>      
>      My girlfriend recently had her rear view mirror falling off about once
>      a week... the guy at the autoparts store said "I can make it stick for
>      good", and after using his special "rearview mirror" glue, it fell off
>      again 2 weeks later.  After about 4 of these trips, I finally pulled
>      out the silicone, and guess what...solid as ever.  It's amazing how
>      will this stuff sticks to clean glass...
>      
>      -tom
> 
I believe the definitive test was done by Dow Corning as part of the trials after they 
developed the product. It consisted of a wall of 
silicone adhesive a couple of feet long and about 4 inches high that formed a hinge for a 
sheet of perspex that was glued to the top edge. This 
was done onto rocks at the seashore within the active wave zone. It was still in place 
ten or fifteen years later and if you ring Dow, I'll bet 
its still in place now.

I use the stuff extensively for the manufacture of aquariums, and I can assure you that 
several hubdreds of gallons of water with a head of 3 
or 4 feet exerts much more pressure on that thin layer of silicone that is squeezed 
between the connecting glass surfaces, than will ever be 
put on your 2-4 inch diagonal mirror (unless you are in the habit of swinging from the 
spider - in which case the spider is likely to bust 
first).

I have a friend who is a panelbeater and his rubber mallet broke in half where the hole 
for the handle goes through. As a joke I glued it back 
together with Silicone Advesive - its still in use two years later!

In conclusion, I reckon you can trust the stuff with your life - millions of fish do!

Cheers