How to restore elasticity to hardened rubber (rubber product), is it possible? Rubber that has lost its elasticity can still be restored Restoring the elasticity of rubber products

14.03.2013

No matter how sad it is, but every thing has its own lifespan. And tires are no exception. After a certain time, it begins to lose its shape, becomes dry and hard, cracks and crumbles. And quite often in such a situation, when, as soon as possible, you need to replace a damaged part, there is absolutely no time to go to the store for it, or there is simply no way. But, fortunately, it is still possible to urgently solve this problem. Consider in this article several ways to give rubber elements a second wind.

So, the materials you will need: glycerin, ammonia, kerosene and napkins.

Do not be surprised! It turns out that kerosene and ammonia can really help out when trying to resuscitate rubber parts. First you need to prepare a low concentrated solution ammonia. Then roll the long and narrow rubber seals into a spiral. And keep them in the solution for about half an hour. If kerosene is at hand, we carry out the same procedure, only the rubber should be in this solution for at least 2 hours. Result - the parts will become noticeably softer and, perhaps, even a little larger than before. After the solutions, rubber products must be washed in non-hot water, using soap composition then rinse them in clean water and dry.

The masters also found a solution for a short-term renewal of seals on refrigerator doors. In this case, it is recommended to pour boiling water over the rubber. It is said that for some time the sealant regains its lost elasticity and sealing ability. And in order to consolidate the effect obtained, you can treat the rubber surface with a napkin impregnated with a silicone composition. However, we recall once again that the effect will not last long, so it is necessary to replace the obsolete part as soon as possible.

Many of us have already installed plastic windows for a long time. But not everyone knows that if the seals on double-glazed windows are properly cared for, they will last much longer. So, you just need to lubricate the rubber elements with a layer of ordinary glycerin or silicone every time you wash windows. And for the best result, it is better to use specially designed chemical compositions from window manufacturers. As a rule, they should be offered by employees of the company in which you place an order, immediately. Although, however, today it is not at all difficult to find such a solution on the Internet.

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. Rubber can be softened in a variety of ways. 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 consumables, since 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 to soften rubber, the most common is the use of 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. Ammonia can be used to soften the structure. 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, hot water can be used to soften the 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, it is possible to restore the old structure only if there are no mechanical defects.

In addition, on sale you can find special compounds that 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. similar substance able to restore elasticity.

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 borne in mind that high and low temperatures 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 how to soften such material, you can pay attention to castor oil.

The 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.

With prolonged use, the rubber can become dull. 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 the tubes and hoses, then the heating is carried out by exposure to a warm air stream. For this, a building or ordinary hair dryer can be used. When the high temperature air flow is concentrated 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 recommended methods may result in some performance degradation. That is why you need to follow all the recommendations.

Water leaks from the cistern into the toilet. The rubber pad has become too hard. What can soften it up? and got the best answer

Answer from Victor*73[guru]
two weeks p .. beat the cat for puddles in the toilet .. .
Turned out the tank was leaking.

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


Answer from Ira Ivanova[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 Buster Bunny[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 fittings - it is enough to replace the trigger shut-off valve, colloquially often referred to as a "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.

Unfortunately, rubber - a flexible material from which various sealing parts are made - loses its properties over time. It becomes rough, deformed and begins to crack and crumble. If there is no replacement part at hand, the question arises how to restore elasticity rubber until it becomes possible to replace it.

You will need

  • - ammonia;
  • - kerosene;
  • - glycerin;
  • - napkins.

Instruction

1. Small rubber parts that have lost elasticity from time to time, it is allowed to “reanimate” with the help of ammonia or kerosene. Roll long and tight rubber parts into a spiral. Prepare a weak solution of ammonia and immerse the products in it for 25-30 minutes. If you use kerosene, keep the rubber parts in it for at least 1-2 hours. During this time, the rubber will not only become softer, but may also increase in size. Later, wash the ammonia and kerosene products in warm water and soap, then rinse in running water and wipe dry.

2. The seal on the door of a dilapidated refrigerator, one that has lost its flexible properties over time, the craftsmen advise to douse with boiling water. This helps to restore the former properties of the rubber seal and restore the tightness of the door. To fix the result, wipe the rubber surface with a cloth soaked in silicone. But this is a temporary measure. If possible, try to quickly replace such a part - it will not live long.

3. Rubber seals on double-glazed windows, so that they last longer, periodically, when washing windows, lubricate with a layer of silicone or glycerin, which can be bought at a pharmacy. But manufacturers advise processing them with special ready-made chemical compounds. They can be bought in the salon of a company engaged in the production and installation of plastic windows, or on the Internet.

4. Reestablish elasticity rubber permitted with the help of special chemicals. Try Novogum Extra, a special composition that restores elasticity offset rubber, which are also allowed to clean the offset rubber sheet and rollers. Its cost is small - within 200 rubles. Another tool - Rubber Renew - will also help bring rubber belts, rollers, belts and other parts back to life. It should be applied to the surface of the product by moistening a napkin, swab or brush.

Over the years, the body loses its former elasticity, skin and muscles become more flabby. This is a normal process, tea maximum collagen production peaks at 25 years of age. After this age, the content of the "main factor of flexibility" in the body begins to gradually decrease. Primitive home care procedures will help to turn back the elasticity of the body.

You will need

  • A mixture of herbs of pharmaceutical chamomile, birch leaves, creeping thyme, sweet clover, hernia, milk, honey, oatmeal, body scrub, massage brush

Instruction

1. It is possible to restore the elasticity of the body with support physical activity. Choose for yourself a particularly suitable daily set of exercises that you will perform with pleasure. The main thing is to pick up feasible loads, tea exorbitant efforts can lead to muscle injuries and refusal to exercise. Choose a set of exercises that will involve all muscle groups. As a result, after a few weeks, your muscles and skin will become more toned and elastic.

2. Be sure to take later exercises cold and hot shower. Alternating warm and cold water improves skin vascular tone, and the result of cool blood circulation will be smooth and elastic skin. In addition to the shower, use a massage with a coarse brush; in advance, a body scrub will need to be applied to the skin. Use this peeling no more than once a week. A scrub and a massage brush will help the skin get rid of keratinized epithelium, as a result, its regeneration processes will be enhanced.

3. In addition to the shower, baths perfectly help to restore the elasticity of the skin - rejuvenating, nourishing and with essential oils. Prepare a nourishing bath: add 2 tablespoons of honey and a teaspoon of rose oil to 200 ml of hot milk, stir and pour the mixture into warm water. Or prepare a rejuvenating herbal decoction bath: take a tablespoon of dry herbs of chamomile, creeping thyme, birch leaves and medicinal sweet clover. Add 2 tablespoons herb herb and brew the mixture with boiling water. After 30 minutes, pour the broth into the cooked warm bath. Take baths 1-2 times a week, such procedures improve blood circulation and restore skin elasticity.

4. To improve the elasticity of the skin, after the bath, apply to the skin nourishing mask. To prepare it, grind a glass in a blender oatmeal, mix them with a glass of milk and add 2 tablespoons of honey. Apply the mixture evenly over the entire body, rinse with warm water after 10 minutes.

5. In the process of improving elasticity, not only external procedures to improve the blood supply to the skin are important, but also reasonable nutrition. Make up your diet in such a way that every day you consume 100 grams of protein, the one that is the building material for the main factors of elasticity - collagen and elastin. Include fresh vegetables and fruits in your daily intake, they contain vitamins and trace elements that are needed for an excellent tone of your skin.

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 a short time. 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 tool gives exactly the same result of 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 last for a 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. It is difficult to specify the exact time of 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 the 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 such procedures, the desired element will quickly pull together 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 the rubber, but to completely change its structure, returning the material to its former elasticity and pliability. That is why this method is recommended by experts to those who would like to achieve a result that remains on long term. It will be necessary to fill a container of the desired size with kerosene, 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. As soon as the required period expires, and the kerosene has the desired effect on the object, it will be possible to remove the structure from the liquid, rinse thoroughly under water and dry it.