USQ Toowoomba 40th Anniversary Time Capsule Specifications

How was the time capsule constructed?

There is a lot more to time capsules than just building a box, filling it with materials and burying it.

USQ’s time capsule needs to be able to withstand extremes of temperature, and protect its contents against moisture and pressure for 40 years.

The capsule was custom designed and built by Faculty of Sciences Workshop Technical Officer, Oliver Kinder.

Oliver has used a basic chest design but with an inner and outer lid. This design allows the chest to be filled, sealed with the inner lid and then filled with nitrogen as a means of better preserving the contents.  The outer lid can then be safely welded without damage to the contents as a separate process. 

The box and lid are made of one milimetre thick 304 grade stainless steel and 304 grade stainless steel bolts are used.  The inner lid will be secured onto an inner flange using stainless steel nuts and washers, with a soft copper seal under the lid.  A screw-in plug with copper seals will be incorporated into the lid to allow the box to be filled with nitrogen.   The outer lid will be welded to the top flange of the chest.

When opened in 2047, an angle grinder will be needed to remove the weld of the outer lid, and standard hand tools will be able to be used to remove the inner lid.

The leadership shown by the Faculty of Sciences in progressing this project is gratefully acknowledged.