Internal and external factors of rubber hose aging
Rubber hose is a soft pipe made of rubber material. It has good flexibility and elasticity and can withstand a certain amount of pressure and tension. Rubber hoses are widely used in petroleum, chemical industry, machinery, metallurgy, shipbuilding and other fields to transport liquids, gases and solid materials, especially in situations where flexible layout and installation are required.
During the use of rubber hoses, the properties of the rubber will change due to the combined influence of various factors, causing the performance of the rubber and its products to gradually decrease over time until it is damaged and loses its use value. This process is called the aging of rubber. . The aging of rubber hoses will cause economic losses. To reduce these losses, extending the life of the rubber hose by slowing down the aging is one of the ways. If you want to slow down the aging, you must first understand the factors that cause the aging of the hose.
1. Oxidation reaction is one of the important reasons for rubber aging. Oxygen will react with certain substances in the rubber tube, causing changes in rubber properties.
2. Increasing the temperature will accelerate the diffusion rate of nutrients and the reaction rate of oxidation reaction, and accelerate the aging of rubber. On the other hand, when the temperature reaches the corresponding level, the rubber itself will undergo thermal cracking and other reactions, thus affecting the performance of the rubber.
3. Light also has energy. The shorter the light wave, the greater the energy. Ultraviolet rays are a type of light with higher energy that can damage rubber. Rubber absorbs light energy and generates free radicals, initiating and accelerating oxidation chain reactions. On the other hand, light also plays a role in heating.
4. When rubber is exposed to humid air or soaked in water, the water-soluble substances in the rubber will be extracted and dissolved by the water. Especially in the case of water immersion and atmospheric exposure, the damage of the rubber will be accelerated.
5. When rubber is repeatedly used, the molecular chain of the rubber may break, and the accumulation of small amounts may cause cracks or even breakage of the hose.
