What
is Stabilant 22?
Stabilant 22 is
an initially non-conductive non-toxic liquid polymer which when used in
a very thin film with electromechanical connections has the property of
switching over to a conductive state under the action of an electric
field. Thus it can virtually impart the reliability of a soldered connection
without forming any sort of a mechanical bond. It is thus termed a contact-enhancer.
What
is its use in the model and hobby field?
In
this age of electronics, many models are dependent upon complex electronic
controls for their proper function. These controls usually operate at very low
signal levels, and, to conserve battery power, at very low power levels as
well. This makes them very prone to malfunctions due to failures in the
connector systems or in the switches used. It takes only a minuscule amount of contaminant
to cause problems with such a circuit. Stabilant
22 was developed as a contact enhancer. It was developed specifically
to improve the reliability of electro-mechanical contacts, and as such, is
being used in many fields from biomedical electronic equipment (in hospitals),
to computer & peripheral equipment. It has a long-term reliability factor
presently unequaled by any simple contact cleaner. That's because Stabilant 22 is a resident treatment. This
means that you leave it in place within the contact. There it will last for a
very long time,- usually more than the design life of
the equipment. Increases in connector reliability of from 10 to 100 times are not unusual.
What
are the differences between Stabilant 22 and Stabilant 22A?
The Stabilants , as presently used by hobbyists, come
in two forms. The basic material or concentrate is called Stabilant
22, while the isopropanol diluted form is designated Stabilant
22A This is a 4:1 isopropanol-dilution (by volume)
and is much easier to apply. When used a normal room temperatures or higher,
the isopropanol will evaporate after the application, leaving a thin film of
the concentrate in place. In some applications such as socketed IC's it is not
even necessary to unplug the IC to treat the connection. The dilute form should
be used for treating existing crimp type joints between multiple stranded wire and the contact as well as for card-edge and other
connectors. As Stabilant 22, the
concentrate, is an excellent lubricant, it can be used on all rotating joints
which have to pass electrical currents, such as model-railroad-car bearings.
For this reason, the dilute form, Stabilant
22A is preferably used on model-train-layout rails, where it should be
wiped on the rail to insure a very thin residual film!
But
won't Stabilants short-out multiple pins?
No,
for the reason that Stabilants are semiconductive in their action, switching at a desired field strength within a contact-pair, but not
switching-on between adjacent contacts. Thus the material can be applied to a
multiple-pin connector without worrying about getting it on the insulation or
causing leakage!
Is
there any place I shouldn't use it?
The Stabilants are not recommended for use on
circuits which, due to inductive loads, spark upon breaking contact. The
momentary high temperatures of the spark would decompose the Stabilants causing a moderate rate of carbon
buildup. Thus, don't use it on motor commutators,
which tend to spark!
What
about its use on connectors?
Obviously,
connector reliability is very important for trouble-free operation of models,
more so when intermittent connectors could cause the crash or loss of a
remote-controlled model airplane. The Stabilants
have had extensive use on, for example, biomedical electronics and avionics
where they are 'TSO'd'. In both cases absolute
reliability of the connectors in the equipment is extremely important.
Stabilants are
also used on cameras, especially on battery contacts. In one critical battery
application they are employed in hearing-aids.
Can
it be used on switches?
The
reliability of switches is generally greater than connectors if only because
their wiping action sometimes is able to keep the contacts clean. Nevertheless,
switches, like connectors, are the least reliable components used in electronic
equipment. Because Stabilants are
excellent lubricants, they can often increase the reliability of switches. One
caveat; where switches do not have back-emf "snubbers" and are used to interrupt highly reactive
loads, such load interruption, can cause sparking of the switch. While Stabilants can lessen this effect, their
decomposition under the heat of the spark can lead to an accumulation of
carbon. It is best to use a reverse-diode across a switch handling DC
potentials as a first step thus eliminating the spark before using Stabilants.
Is
it useful on transmitters for remote controls?
Stabilants are used extensively in the maintenance of transmitters
in professional applications, both for remote control and for communications.
It can be used on everything from EPROM's to crystal sockets.
Can
it be used on microprocessor-based controllers?
Again,
Stabilants have been used in computers
for over ten years and are standard-stores items for many OEM's and third-party
service organizations. Stabilants first
received a 'User Product-of-the Year" award from Byte magazine in 1985 and
have been 'highly recommended" by Dr. Jerry Pournelle
on numerous occasions since that award. In model railroading.
this makes it esecially
applicable to DCC systems and rail junctions.
Can
it be used on servos?
Because
of the reliability-advantage of Stabilant-treated
connections at micro-power-levels, Stabilants
can substantially increase the reliability of servos. While the material
can be used on the potentiometers in servo controls, the isopropanol diluant of Stabilant
22A should NOT be used on conductive-plastic potentiometers as it can
extract the plasticizer. Instead, use the concentrate, Stabilant
22, diluted 10:1 with hot water. Apply only the smallest amount to the plastic
element of the potentiometer and cycle through its maximum stroke to distribute
the material!
Can
it be used on model railroads?
Stabilants can
not only be used on switch-machine contacts, controller-boards and pulse-code
modulation equipment, but many model railroaders are employing it on their
tracks in order to reduce the stalling-voltage of locomotives thus obtaining
better slow-speed characteristics.
Obviously,
it can be especially useful on complex control panels and their wiring,
including slide and rotary switches, mechanical and electrical sensors, relay
and switch machine contacts, wirewound rheostats, and
phone jacks.
In
DCC "Command-Control" systems, Stabilant
22A is almost essential for trouble-free operation.
What
is the most common size?
The
most popular size is either the 5 mL or the 15 mL service kits of Stabilant 22A. The 15 mL size has about 700
to 900 drops per bottle. Because it is necessary to use very little of the
material, a drop can go a very long way! The dilute material, Stabilant 22A, will even wick into socketed
IC's.
Needless
to say, larger sizes are available.
Revision
5
Stabilants are a product of
Dayton Wright research & development and are made in Canada
NATO Supply Code 38948
15 mL of S22A has NATO
Part # 5999-21-900-6937
The Stabilants are patented in Canada - 1987; US Patent number 4696832. World-wide patents
pending. Because the patents cover contacts treated with the material, a
Point-of-sale License is granted with each sale of the material.
MATERIAL
SAFETY DATA SHEETS ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.
Stabilant, Stabilant
22, and product type variations thereof are Trade Marks of D.W.
Electrochemicals Ltd.
© Copyright
1987, '88. '89, '90 - D.W. Electrochemicals Ltd. This
note may be reproduced or copied, provided its content is not altered. The term "contact enhancer", © 1983 Wright Electroacoustics.
NOTICE: This Application
Note is based on customer-supplied information, and D.W. Electrochemicals is
publishing it for information purposes only. In the event of a conflict between
the instructions supplied by the manufacturer of the equipment on which the Stabilant material was used, and the service procedure
employed by our customer, we recommend that the manufacturer be contacted to
make sure that warranties will not be voided by the procedures.
While
to our knowledge the information is accurate, prospective users of the material
should determine the suitability of the Stabilant
materials for their application by running their own tests. Neither
D.W. Electrochemicals Ltd., their distributors, or their dealers assume
any responsibility or liability for damages to equipment and/or any consequent
damages, howsoever caused, based on the use of this information.
Stabilant, Stabilant
22, and product type variations thereof are Trade Marks of D.W Electrochemicals
Ltd.
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