Rigid binding material that can dissolve?

[TenaciousB]

Hello there! I am working on a project where we need to bind together 2mm Tungsten shot into a solid shape. The shapes are around 10mm x 10mm x 12mm. I need to be able to reclaim the Tungsten beads after use. Thus far I have found that water soluable wax has been a good substance, however it is very brittle. If the form is dropped it will shatter. I am looking for a possible additive that I could put into the wax that would give it some flexibility but yet still be able to dissolve either by heat or water or some solvent.

 

[Baluncore]

Welcome to PF.

Maybe if you mixed short, say 2 mm, fibres of Kevlar into the wax, that would give it the initial strength, and then be released during the recovery, when the wax is dissolved.

 

[jrmichler]

Have you tried paraffin wax? It's easily removed with hot water, and is probably not too brittle for your application. If it is too hard and brittle, you can soften it by melting it and adding some oil. The oil could be anything from motor oil to mineral oil. Cooking oil might work.

There are other waxes available. McMaster-Carr has a selection: https://www.mcmaster.com/, and enter search term wax. McMaster-Carr is an excellent place to look when you are not sure exactly what you are looking for. They have a huge selection of stuff that you never heard of.

The suggestion by @Baluncore of adding a fiber reinforcement is good. Here is a source for other fibers that could be used for reinforcement: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/cm/fillers.html. The flocked cotton fiber and milled glass fiber are both used to add strength to epoxy, so should do the same for wax. Another good company to deal with.

 

[TenaciousB]

Awesome, thanks for the suggestions. I didn't even think to look at McMaster. I am planning on trying parrafin soon, its much cheaper than the specials waxes.