Depends on the rubber, but in general you’re correct; grease will swell the rubber. You can use silicone grease; it’s non-petroleum. silicone caulk if the gasket itself won’t provide a tight seal.
Does petroleum degrade silicone?
Petroleum based lubes may erode the rubber o-rings and harden them, causing cracks.
What is the best lubricant for rubber?
any – white lithium grease good on rubber. Silicone grease is safe on rubber and actually helps to keep it soft. Any other grease with a mineral oil base will degrade natural rubber.
Does Vaseline dissolve silicone?
Any water based lubricant is going to be safe for use with silicone. Only petroleum jelly based lubes and silicone based lubes cause issues with silicone. Yes, it is silicone safe!
How do you lubricate rubber seals?
Lubrication of seals can be achieved by adding a lubricant to the rubber compound before molding, or by treating the seal after molding. Seals that have a lubricant molded into them are considered to be Internally Lubricated. Silicone Oil or Molybdenum Disulfide can be applied to the surface of molded rubber products.
Does oil degrade rubber?
But there are often problems with what is known as rubber “ageing”: a deterioration of the properties of the rubber due to interactions between the rubber and the grease/base oils involved. However, when that great grease comes into contact with that great rubber, far too often the rubber is destroyed in no time.
Is Vaseline bad for rubber?
Vaseline or other petroleum products should never be used on rubber or neoprene objects. It can deteriorate the rubber or neoprene very rapidly. The correct lube to use is a silicone based lubricant, which comes with or without Teflon.
Does Vaseline destroy plastic?
To avoid damage to plastics as well as minimize ventilation issues, isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol can be used to remove petroleum jelly from most surfaces. Yes- vaseline is a petroleum jelly and it can degrade plastics – AND – it is about 8000 weight!
Does WD-40 damage rubber?
WD-40 can be used on just about everything. It is safe for metal, rubber, wood and plastic. WD-40 can be applied to painted metal surfaces without harming the paint. Polycarbonate and clear polystyrene plastic are among the few surfaces on which to avoid using a petroleum-based product like WD-40.
Does WD40 attack rubber?
WD40 …. used a little rarely …. as to eating rubber – any product with a petroleum component will have effect on rubber compounds as to extent depends on the compound.
Is it safe to use petroleum jelly with rubber?
No kidding! Latex is the real problem with petroleum jelly. I don’t think it helps rubber, but I also don’t think it hurts it real bad either. The reason I say that is because I read about windshield wipers and how road grime (ie oil) can wear out the rubber and that is why silicone products are getting popular as wiper material.
Is it true that petroleum products dissolve rubber?
While Vaseline and other petroleum products may degrade real rubber (actually made from the rubber tree), current o-rings technology does not use natural rubber. The Parker O-ring Handbook states: A polymer is the “result of a chemical linking of molecules into a long chain-like structure.” Both plastics and elastomers are classifi ed as polymers.
Is it safe to use petroleum jelly past the expiration date?
If there’s anything in your petroleum jelly besides “100% petroleum jelly,” then it’s best to play it safe, and follow the expiration date. Additionally, if you notice that your petroleum jelly has changed color or has a new, funky smell that you never noticed before, it’s probably time to get a new jar.
What makes petroleum jelly the way it is?
Petroleum jelly (a.k.a. soft paraffin or petrolatum) is a mixture of different hydrocarbons, mineral oils, and waxes that create a jelly-like semi-solid substance. Interestingly, the raw materials that were later used to create petroleum jelly were actually discovered by workers at some of the US’s very first oil rigs back in the 1850s.
