ANALYTICAL AND LABORATORY EQUIPMENT 21
Improving the use of rubber parts
Michele Christian reports on an innovative solution to decrease costs, improve quality and enhance safety
R
ubber, both natural and synthetic, is a core material in the
automotive manufacturing industry. Its inherent qualities make it the number one choice for mountings, bumpers, seals, protective boots, belts, bushings, o-rings and hoses, to name just a few. Unfortunately, rubber’s non-slip surface often makes the installation, removal and general manipulation of rubber components a difficult task. Tight-fitting rubber components can slow production and affect quality and safety.
Te use of rubber parts should be evaluated at the design stage to consider the assembly and excessive force that may be required to position them. Results may include damage to the parts themselves, damage to the surrounding area or an improper fit.
Te traditional solution is to lubricate parts during assembly. However, some lubricants leave residues that may result in functional, health and safety or aesthetic problems.
For this reason, International Products Corporation has developed a line of P-80 temporary rubber lubricants that allow rubber parts to slide easily into place and stay there. P-80 lubricants are temporary in nature as a result of their chemical composition.
Fig. 1. P-80 minimises the force needed to assemble rubber. It also decreases the chance for a part or its surrounding area to be ripped or otherwise damaged during assembly.
Te lubricants provide a high degree of lubricity when wet, but because they do not contain
any silicon or other persistent ingredients, once dry the slipping action goes away. Once applied, the water in P-80 evaporates and the oils are absorbed into the elastomer. As this evaporation/ absorption process progresses, the lubrication diminishes.
When complete, the assembled part is dry to the touch and does not slide apart. No lubricity or greasiness returns, even in moist working environments, and both the functionality and appearance of treated parts are unaffected. P-80 can also be used to lubricate rubber parts that are being cut or formed.
People working with rubber parts are often injured as a result of the force used in assembly. P-80 lubricant can substantially reduce the pressure needed to complete an assembly job, improving worker safety.
For instance, a hose-to-cap fitting that originally took 100 pounds of pressure to install requires only 30 pounds of pressure when P-80 is used. Tis dramatic reduction of friction lessens the impact on workers’ hands and the likelihood of slippage-related injuries. Workers are able to fit a rubber component with a fraction of the original force, in a fraction of the time. In addition to increasing worker safety, P-80 also improves product quality. While P-80 minimises the force needed to assemble rubber, it also
decreases the chance for a part or its surrounding area to be ripped or otherwise damaged during assembly.
Using P-80 can improve your rubber assemblies, speed productivity, reduce waste and help to ensure a high-quality finished product.
Unlike many other lubricants, P-80 products are water-based, non-toxic, non-flammable, easy to dispose of and ready-to-use. P-80 is NFPA-rated at 0-0-0 and contains negligible VOCs. Spills can be cleaned up with a cloth or sponge.
Only a small amount of P-80 is needed to achieve the required lubricity. All P-80 products are readily available in multiple sizes ranging from tubes – great for inclusion in seal kits – to drums.
For more information ✔ at
www.scientistlive.com/eurolab Michele Christian is with International
Products Corporation, Burlington, New Jersey, USA.
www.ipcol.com
www.scientistlive.com
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