Cracked rubber methods and means of recovery. How to soften rubber with special impregnation

Rubber is considered one of the most common materials today. Over time, the main characteristics can be significantly reduced. A fairly common question is how to soften the rubber. A similar procedure can be performed independently at home, it is important to follow all the recommendations.

Do-it-yourself rubber restoration

All materials lose their performance over time. Often you can find a situation where the rubber becomes too hard and loses its elasticity. If desired, you can restore the basic properties of the material, it is not necessary to throw it away. You can soften the rubber most various methods. Among the features of this issue, we note the following points:

1. Rubber cuffs and seals of some devices lose their basic properties over time. In this case, you can buy new expendable materials because their cost is relatively low.
2. Some items are difficult to find on sale, which is due to unusual shape and properties. In this case, softening can be carried out using various common technologies.

There is quite a large number of various ways softening rubber, the most common is to use kerosene.

What is needed to restore the elasticity of rubber?

Rubber is considered one of the most resilient materials. It is for this reason that it is used in the manufacture of various seals. After the seal ceases to be affected by the load, it is able to return to its dimensions. This moment determines the spread of the question of how to restore the elasticity of rubber. Over time, this property is also lost. If the surface is worn too much, cracks appear, due to which the insulating qualities are significantly reduced.

You can soften rubber at home using common substances. The most commonly used substances are:

1. Kerosene can easily restore the elasticity index. This substance is ideal for processing small products; you can soften them by soaking them.
2. Can be used ammonia to soften the texture. To do this, it is enough to create a small bath in which the product is lowered for several hours.

When soaking rubber in a recovery liquid, it should be borne in mind that the material can increase significantly in size. To remove the substance from the surface, the product is thoroughly washed with soap and water.

In some cases, you can use hot water to soften rubber. This method is used to restore the insulation of the doorway of the refrigerator. You can enhance the effect achieved by wetting the surface with silicone.

Seals from the material in question are also used in the manufacture of windows. To improve the insulating qualities of the rubber bands, they are wiped with silicone and glycerin from time to time. Such substances can be purchased without any problems.

How to give elasticity to rubber?

1. Rigidity increases if the rubber is kept dry for a long time. Elasticity is restored by wetting the surface with oil. Softening is recommended to be carried out periodically to achieve the desired result.
2. Car wipers can be lubricated silicone grease which softens the surface. Of course restore old design possible only if there are no mechanical defects.

In addition, on sale you can find special formulations, which can soften the structure after application.

How to soften rubber at home?

At home, you can soften the rubber when applying various materials. The most widespread are:

1. Kerosene.
2. Castor oil and silicone.

High temperatures also cause the rubber to become softer, but the wear resistance decreases.

Kerosene

When considering how to soften rubber, many give the possibility of using kerosene. Such a substance is able to restore the elasticity index.

Application features are that the product is soaked in a special bath, after which the surface is thoroughly washed and dried. If the length of the product is large, then it can be rolled up. Aged in kerosene to soften for several hours, as kerosene does not act immediately.

This substance is widely used, it can also make the product softer. The procedure is as follows:

1. A container of a suitable volume is selected.
2. Ammonia is diluted in water to obtain the required solution.
3. The product is placed in the solution for an hour to soften.
4. After that, the softened element is taken out and washed. clean water.

Drying is carried out at room temperature. It should be taken into account that the high low temperature always negatively affect the condition of the rubber.

Silicone and castor oil

A short-term effect can be achieved if silicone and castor oil are used. Among the features of the application, we note the following points:

1. Silicone has only a temporary effect. It can be purchased in specialized stores.
2. After lubrication, you need to wait a while. Silicone can be absorbed into the structure, making it more elastic.

After half an hour, the rubber will be ready for use. It should be borne in mind that the achieved effect will be temporary. When considering what can be softened similar material, you can pay attention to castor oil.

Heating

In some cases, only a temporary softening is required, for example, when putting a hose on a nozzle. In this case, you can solve the problem by temporarily lowering the product into a hot bath. After some time of exposure high temperature elasticity increases.

At long-term operation the rubber can sag. Problems can only be solved if the product is boiled. Significantly increase the effectiveness of the procedure by adding salt to the composition. Boiling is carried out until the moment when the surface becomes elastic.

If there are difficulties in removing tubes and hoses, then heating is carried out by exposure to warm air flow. For this, a building or ordinary hair dryer can be used. At concentration air flow high temperature in one place, plasticity increases significantly.

In conclusion, we note that only in the absence of defects can the restoration of the material be carried out. Some of the recommended methods may lead to the deterioration of some performance characteristics. That is why you need to follow all the recommendations.

In the section on the question Water flows from drain tank into the toilet. Rubber gasket became too rigid. What can soften it up? given by the author sucker the best answer is two weeks p .. beat the cat for puddles in the toilet .. .
Turned out the tank was leaking.

Answer from 22 answers[guru]

Hey! Here is a selection of topics with answers to your question: Water flows from the cistern into the toilet. The rubber pad has become too hard. What can soften it up?

Answer from Yoehmet[guru]
Why soften it, buy a new one.

Answer from A prostitute[guru]
hold it in kerosene, but it's better to buy a new one

Answer from V...Spb[guru]
softening will not work, and all kerosene gasolines only dissolve rubber.
You can wind a little solder (or lead) on top for weight, most often this helps.

Answer from Neurologist[guru]
Try putting a couple of heavy bearings on the thing that's blocking the drain hole... They will rust, of course, but the problem will be solved in time ... And so you have to remove the tank and change the whole system

Answer from Valery Myakishev[guru]
Completely replace the fittings, and neighbors can be flooded.

Answer from a lion[guru]
buy a new one, it costs a penny and adjust the valve

Answer from Alex Mishin[guru]
There is absolutely no need to replace all the fittings - just replace the trigger stop valve, colloquially often referred to as "pear".
Depending on the design of the tank, it is either screwed onto a wire hook-shackle, or (in newer tanks) it is pulled onto a plastic tube that serves as a trigger handle - a “pear” for one and for another case you need to buy a different one that you need - look necessary.
The pear not only becomes hard, but also begins to crumble, and sometimes falls from one side - soaking it in gasoline-kerosene will not help. Although it would get wet normally - the rubber is vulcanized and therefore will not completely dissolve, but only swell.
If you send a picture of your tank inside, I'll try to tell you which release valve you need.
Valve price - from 5 rubles.

Answer from Truculentus[guru]
Nothing to soften to the desired state. Replacement required. A penny nonsense, and work for five minutes.

Answer from Polina Roslikova[newbie]
It is necessary to rub the gum with sandpaper at the point of contact with the fittings of the barrel (to remove the upper coarsened layer of the gum).

Answer from Nikolai Khilko[newbie]
Elementary-in boiling water! But it's better to replace it with a new one!

Shock absorbers, belts, rubberized fabrics and more various parts for automotive and household appliances. If they are worn out, try to restore their elasticity with kerosene. This is the proven and most commonly used method. Pour some kerosene into enamelware, put the rubber part there and let it lie down for 2-3 hours. After that, rinse it thoroughly with detergents and wipe dry. After that, it will become soft and elastic.

You can also use ammonia. Dilute it one to one with water and immerse the desired rubber part in the solution for 20-30 minutes. Then rinse with clean water, dry and use.

It happens to soften rubber required for a short time, let's say, to pull the hose on a metal one with an equal diameter. To do this, simply put the end of the hose in boiling water, soak for a couple of minutes and immediately pull it onto the pipe. Boiling water will make it soft, and the hose will easily fit on.

Hardened car parts for removal can be softened with hot air. Turn on the hair dryer on full and direct the jet at the part. After 4-5 minutes, try turning the part and pulling it off.

Try boiling old rubber in a saline solution. Take a liter of water, add two tablespoons of salt and boil the product in this solution for 10 minutes.

Also, rubber parts are lubricated. It restores their elasticity for a while. Apply to the part, let it lie down for a while, and then use it. Process the item in the same way. castor oil. These are short term softeners. rubber a. Therefore, repeat the procedure as often as possible.

Today, a special spray is produced for maintenance - a rubber softener. It restores the softness of rubber rollers in printers and copiers. Buy such a spray in specialized stores and use it when restoring rubber parts.

Sources:

• soften the rubber

Rubber products and those made of rubber are often very similar: they have almost the same density, texture, physical properties. However, the materials themselves are fundamentally different.

Rubber has been used since 1823 as an impregnation for raincoats, which were invented by C. Macintosh.

Rubber

Raw materials are of two types: natural and artificial. Natural rubber is obtained from latex rubber plants that grow in Latin America, and these include the following types trees:
- ;
- rubber ficuses;
- varieties of landolphia.

Artificial rubber is called synthetic. It is based on the synthesis of isoprene and butyl lithium using a chemical catalyst. In the production of synthetic rubber, petroleum derivatives are also used as a solvent. It was first obtained in 1920, and in 1931 its mass production began in industrial scale. Currently, there are the following types of synthetic rubbers:
- styrene butadiene;
- polybutadiene;
- polysoprene;
- butyl rubber;
- ethylene-propylene;
- chloroprene;
- butadiene - nitrile.

Rubber

Rubber is obtained by vulcanizing rubber and adding various chemical elements, which are designed to increase the strength of the material. The first rubber appeared in 1839 by vulcanization under the influence of sulfur rubber, in which molecular level network structures are strengthened.

When synthesizing rubber using synthetic rubber, a material is obtained that has improved qualities of resistance to aggressive environments, such as:
- liquids with a high content of octane (gasoline, kerosene);
- products ( various kinds oils).

Also, rubber has a lot better performance in relation to the mechanical impact on it from the side external factors. It has a much denser structure in relation to rubber, due to which it has become widespread in all industries. National economy.

Rubber, due to its artificial origin, is resistant to various atmospheric influences. Among other things, it has dielectric properties. But the main difference between natural and artificial rubber from rubber is the increased plasticity of the rubber mass. It is specially added to rubber during production to add flexibility and ductility. Rubber in its pure form is almost never used due to its low strength, but when it is added to rubber, a very durable, wear-resistant material is obtained.

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Rubber is a valuable product that has been used for the production of rubber for centuries. Its source is hevea - one of the most common plants South America and South-East Asia.

Origin of rubber

One of the most useful plants for the history of mankind was and remains hevea - a tree from whose juice rubber is made. It grows in the tropical climate of South America and Southeast Asia. Initially, hevea originated from Brazil: the Indians living in the Amazon jungle have long used the juice of this plant for medical (disinfection of wounds and stopping blood), industrial (waterproof shoes and raincoats) and even gaming purposes. In particular, it was the Indians who created the first rubber ball for games similar to modern football.

The British brought hevea from South America, and at the beginning of the 20th century they began to plant it in their Asian colonies. It was then that plantations appeared in Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. On the this moment Thailand is the largest supplier of natural rubber.

rubber mining

The process of obtaining rubber is extremely simple. Hevea trees begin to produce resin at the age of 7-8 years: it is then that the first cuts are made in them, from which white thick milky juice oozes. Each tree during the day produces about 200 grams of juice, which is collected in small cups tied to the tree. In the evening, the collected juice is poured into large containers and sent to processing factories. The milky juice is collected daily until the tree reaches the age of about 30 years, when it dries up. The plantation is cut down completely and young sprouts are planted in its place.

In fact, the juice collected and cleaned from branches and insects can already be considered a finished product, since it quickly thickens in air and turns into a dense rubber mass, however, to speed up the process, special thickeners are added to it and placed in flat small square or square trays. rectangular shape. Then the resulting pasty sticky mass is rolled with a press, squeezing out the remaining moisture from it, and dried. Thus, it is possible to obtain natural rubber almost by hand, giving it the desired shape and evaporating all the moisture.

The last step of the primary treatment is to smoke the resulting rubber sheets in order to get rid of ants and other insects. It is smoking that gives the sheets a brown-yellow color, which is considered to be classic for natural rubber.

Natural rubber is currently used to produce latex sleep products (pillows, mattresses),

There are many ways to return rubber products to their previous state in which they are most convenient to use. Therefore, to the question of how to soften rubber at home, there are several answers at once. And to choose how to soften the rubber in each case will remain with the owner of the house. In the most famous and common method of processing the products under discussion, ammonia is used. Its main advantage lies in maximum efficiency, availability and low cost, because such alcohol can be purchased at the lowest cost at any nearest pharmacy. First, rinse the rubber part with water and immerse in a water-alcohol solution. It is prepared in proportions 1/1. For such a bath, about 30-40 minutes will be enough. After the specified time, the rubber will need to be rinsed again with clean water and dried thoroughly.

The second most popular method of softening rubber among ordinary people involves the use of castor oil. It is important to note here that its result will be quick, but short-lived. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to this method if it is required to soften the rubber for short term. To begin with, the rubber product is washed with water and dried, and then completely thoroughly lubricated with castor oil applied to a soft cloth or cotton wool. It remains only to give the object time to impregnate and you can use it. The term depends on the size of the product and the thickness of the rubber. For miniature parts, just a couple of minutes of “rest” will be enough. By the way, if liquid silicone is at hand, then it is quite possible to use it. This remedy gives exactly the same result of a quick but short-term softening for rubber products.

The next method, which tells you how to soften the rubber at home on your own, will be longer, but the effect of it will remain on long time. This will require a large saucepan or other container available for heating, in which you can place the rubber product completely. If the material has become very hard, it is best to boil it in salted water. Rubber is immersed in a saucepan with liquid, and then sent in this container to medium heat. You can use for such heating and a boiler. Exact time it is difficult to specify the procedure, it will also depend on the size of the product and the degree of its “stubbornness”. To determine the deadline for its completion, you will simply need to periodically check the rubber with a wooden stick for softness.

But not only boiling will be effective for softening the products under discussion. It is possible to influence objects with high temperature in other ways. If, for example, a hardened hose cannot be put on desired pipe, then its end should simply be immersed in boiling water for a couple of minutes. The main thing is that immediately after that, have time to quickly install the part until it returns to its original state. High temperature very quickly affects the rubber, effectively steaming and softening it. If it turns out to be difficult to remove the used part, then you can heat it in other ways, for example, by applying a cloth soaked in boiling water or by acting with a jet of hot air from a hair dryer. After these procedures desired element quickly pulls soft and pliable. The main thing is to protect your hands from exposure to high temperatures or boiling water. It is better to protect them first with thick gloves or in some other way.

But there are other ways to quickly and easily soften rubber using improvised means. For example, the most ordinary kerosene can help with this. It is known that he is able not only to soften rubber, but to completely change its structure, returning the material to its former elasticity and pliability. That's why this way recommended by experts to those who would like to achieve a result that lasts for a long time. It will be necessary to fill the container with kerosene right size, and then immerse the rubber product into it. Do not immerse the object in cold kerosene, it is better to leave it at room temperature for a while. Usually a couple of hours in the substance under discussion is enough to soften various rubber products. Once the right time expires, and kerosene will have the desired effect on the object, it will be possible to remove the structure from the liquid, rinse thoroughly under water and dry.