Pili Seal

What it does

This product is beneficial & effective for aircraft parts application like integral fuel tank that serves as a sealing material to avoid the fuel leakage. Unlike the commercial sealant, it offers safe & non-toxic effects to user’s health based on Toxicity Test

Your inspiration

Polysulfide-based sealant is the first aerospace sealant which have been used by the aircraft industry for over 50 years and currently use by the manufacturers that serve as resistant to aviation fuels and are therefore useful for sealing fuel tanks. However, this sealant based on the Hazard Statement under Section III of Material Safety Data Sheet specifies and describes the following nature and degree of hazards:(H319, H335, H315, H412, H225, H373, H302+H332, & H340+H350). And because of that various drawbacks and nature of hazards due to its chemical compositions, the innovator introduced a new aviation sealant made from the waste material

How it works

Pili Seal is a two-component sealant which consists of the waste of Pili Tree Resin (also known as the “spent resin or de-oiled resin”) that serves as the base ingredient for aircraft integral fuel tank sealant production. It is applicable for specific aircraft parts particularly the integral fuel tank as well as other areas subject to contact with aircraft fuels, lubricants, oils, water and/ or weathering. Since this is a two-component sealant, the reaction of base and hardener material are needed by mixing these two components in order for the sealant to work and function as a sealing material. After mixing it, it is important to use the spatula, spreader, or sealant gun in order to easily apply and spread it to the aircraft parts like integral fuel tank.

Design process

It is a product innovation with experimental method of research. The research design and procedures were composed of 2 parts. The first part covered the Optimization Process in order to get the suitable & best formulation of sealant through Flammability Test, an important test and consideration according to Air Laws and Regulations particularly the 14 Code of Federal Regulation Appendix N to Part 25-Fuel Tank Flammability Exposure and Reliability Analysis. Followed by the Characterization Process, where both Pili Seal and commercial sealant undergone 20 different standard tests including Organoleptic Test (Color, Odor & Appearance Test), Instrumental Color Measurement Test, Flash Point Test, Tack-Free Time Test, Curing Time Test, Toxicity Test, Shore A Hardness Test, Shear Strength Test, Tensile Strength, Tear Strength Test, Peel Strength Test, Knife Test, Pull-off Test, Thermogravimetry-Differential Thermal Analysis Test, Differential Scanning Calorimetry Test, Calorific Value Test, and Viscosity Test to analyze its material properties including the physical, chemical, mechanical, thermal & rheological properties. The result shows that the material properties of the Pili Seal are far more effective as aircraft integral fuel tank sealant in comparison to the commercial sealant.

How it is different

This innovative product is a pioneering study in the field of aviation industry that uses the waste of Pili Tree Resin as the base ingredient for aircraft integral fuel tank sealant production. Since Pili Seal uses the waste material as the main ingredient in formulating sealant, it is cheaper and affordable compared to commercially available sealants in aviation. In terms of application and effectiveness, Pili Seal exceeded all the data results of the commercial sealant used in aircraft integral fuel tank including the physical, chemical, mechanical, thermal and rheological property tests. One of the unique features of this innovation is that it offers safe & non-toxic effects to the user’s health including the aircraft mechanics & technicians since this product undergone Toxicity Test (one of the standard tests conducted on the product). Moreover, this sealant displays an assured qualities and performance because it undergone 20 different standard tests.

Future plans

1.Further study for the application of this sealant on the other aircraft parts or different sectors (like construction, building, wood, metal sheet roof) to maximize the use and function of it. 2.Use this innovation as a gateway to build a manufacturing company of aviation sealants here in the Philippines since we only import aviation sealants in other countries. Through this goals and vision, it can help our local farmers to have a new job opportunities & income because they will play a vital role in manufacturing this aviation sealant including the plantation of Pili Tree and extraction of its resin which is needed for sealant production.

Awards

1.GRAND CHAMPION(Cardinal Innovator)-Cardinal Challenge 2021:Mapua Design and Innovation Competition. Mr. Carvey Ehren Maigue, (the first ever Sustainability Winner of James Dyson Awards 2020) is one of the panel of judges in this competition. 2.GRAND WINNER-Ambassador Alfredo M. Yao Intellectual Property Awards 2020