Re: Re: Rubber testing: Chiming In

From: Tapio Linkosalo <tapio.linkosalo_at_iki.fi>
Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2012 20:07:34 +0200

On 9.11.2012 19:47, joemargbartek wrote:
> You sure can make a rubber motor do its stuff, so if you leave the oil
> on it must be OK. The silicone oil has a listed shelf life of 60 months.
> I've used it in heating baths and it's pretty stable. It does dissolve
> oxygen ( see mice immersed in it still breathing and the "Abyss"
> movie)and latex rubber is sensitive to oxidation. The big question is
> "how much does it soften the rubber?". We've all seen rubber stiffen
> with age under the influence of light and air. Experience would set a
> time and flight number limit on these motors, stored out of light. Maybe
> Mike Kirda could take some loops of his rubber and stretch them over
> some nails in a board, with and without lube, to give a "days to break"
> number.

To my experience, silicone is pretty inert to rubber. I lube my F1B
motors while breaking them in, and some Tan II motors put aside for
fly-off use have been in their plastic bags for several years, with no
ill effect to them. As a matter of fact, I'd me more concerned about the
plastic bags or paper envelopes to store the motor in than the silicone
lubricant.



-Tapio-
Received on Fri Nov 09 2012 - 10:07:39 CET