[buddingmind]

Hello, this is my first time here and I'm a little lost. I have a vision for making a new material, but i don't know where to go or what to look for to guide my research (so what better way than to ask a group of people who really know what they're talking about). Essentially, I'm just looking for advice as to what to research in order to make (of find) a substance that:

-starts off in liquid form (so it can be placed in a container)

-somehow becomes a (very) sturdy plastic, once released from it's container (through either a small opening, like a polymer.... or possibly by keeping it in a cold/hot container and then exposing it to a rapid temperature change on exiting it's container, possibly in reaction to oxygen exposure, or some combination, I'm all ears)

-regardless, this change from liquid to solid/plastic would have to happen rapidly (in a matter of seconds) as I'm thinking of appling this substance to everyday use...

This is only initial research so any ideas or suggestions as to where to look for information would be greatly appreciated

[P]

You can already buy rigid polyurethane spray foams.  They spray out of a can to make a foam which hardens quickly - it is used to insulate gaps in walls etc..  You may need a different polymer to get the charictoristics you want from the material. What is you application?

Here is an example of the expandable rigid PU spray foam:  http://www.foam-insulation.net/links.htm  I think quite a few componies do a simular product.

Regards,

P.

[Sam (NG)]

Thermosetting plastics?

[buddingmind]

application: I'm trying to create a substance that could be used by people in a "high height" environment (rock climbers, construction workers, window wipers, etc.) as a sort of "instant safety rope".
in essence, if someone in a high position (such as a construction worker on a high-rise apartment project for example) was to fall without a secure fasten to something, they could activate a device (I'm still sketching out the prototype for that) that would unleash this substance /polymer from an air tight (pressurized?) container. The substance in question would solidify as it exited the chamber, and seeing as more is being forced out from behind it, it would grow rapidly in length. It would then stick to whatever surface it had been aimed at, and in short save whoever was using it from a sure and definite demise.

I'm still worried about wether or not a substance could be created that would be capable of resisting the strain that this "rope" would undoubtedly have to endure (the weight of whoever was using it + the force applied by how far they have fallen). So far, polymers have seemed to be my best bet for this sort of substance (become solid and rope-like when forced through an opening, etc.) but issues with melting points in relation to ambient outdoor temperature, how it could stick to a variety of surfaces relatively quickly and hold strong under immense pressure, and wether or not enough of this material to form a sturdy lifeline could be placed in a transportable and unobtrusive (e.g. not a giant backpack) container..

[Sam (NG)]

Sounds like you want to create the spider-web like substance from the Spider Man comics that was invented by Peter Parker.

[buddingmind]

I don't understand what you mean.... could you explain?