I just tried to repair my leaking calcium reactor and got too much solvent glue on the inside seam of the tube. The result was that the tube edge crazed about an inch up the side. Is the tube now destroyed or is crazing just a surface condition?
The discoloration or clouding from the glue will in no way weaken your Calcium reactor. Once your seam is wealded back together it is good as new. The discoloration or clouding is due to the glue causing the surface to become essentialy very rough. I think CRAZING is a different thing all together due to stress and are very fine cracks causing a similar hazy apperance but I have not seen it much except on tanks that were made of thin acrylic. Your reactor is not under enough pressure I wouldn't think.
I am definitely talking about the small, fine cracks radiating from the glued edge. They appeared a few minutes after the glue was applied. I am not sure of the mechanism of how it occurs but it happens when too much glue is applied. Maybe the solvent dries out the acrylic or something as it evaporates. If anyone knows why it occurs it would be interesting to hear. Also, any other opinions? Do I scrap the reactor or try something else?
