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Old 12-22-2019, 11:15 AM   #158
rotorwrench
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Default Re: Interest in new restoration project thread?

Rubber in it's natural form, doesn't have a very long life span even if kept in controlled environments. Neoprene lasts longer but is still life limited and vulnerable to ozone and some solvents. The fluorocarbon and fluorosilicon elastomers have the longest shelf and working life but they are more expensive to produce. Both were developed in the mid 50s due to a need for low and high temp seals for aerospace applications with good swell resistance to lubricants and solvents. If they could use more modern elastomers, to reproduce stuff like this then it would last a very long time. I'm not sure what is used on the ones Skip sells but it is likely neoprene.
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