For vehicles or heavy machinery sitting idle for extended periods, use jack stands to take the weight off the tires. Constant, static pressure flattens the bottom of the tire, accelerating dry rot in the sidewalls.
Few things are as frustrating as reaching for your favorite pair of boots, checking your car’s tires, or unrolling a garden hose—only to find it covered in a web of fine, ugly cracks. That’s .
Rubber is made of long chains of polymer molecules. These chains give rubber its signature elasticity and strength. Dry rot occurs when these polymer chains are broken down by environmental factors. As the bonds break, the rubber loses its plasticizers—the compounding ingredients that keep it flexible. The Chemistry of Decay
When rubber dry rots, it loses its elasticity, becoming brittle, stiff, and prone to cracking. This article explains exactly what causes dry rot, how to prevent it, and how to maintain rubber products to ensure they last for years. What is Dry Rot in Rubber? how to keep rubber from dry rotting work
What are they exposed to? (e.g., high heat, chemicals, or long periods of storage)
Aerospace seals, chemical processing valves, and high-heat gaskets.
Gently press or flex the rubber. If it feels stiff, unyielding, or takes a long time to return to its original shape, it is drying out. For vehicles or heavy machinery sitting idle for
Use a silicone-based conditioner or liquid sealer (like AT205) liberally, allowing it to soak into the cracks 1.2.4.
Rubber components are critical assets in industrial and commercial environments. They seal machinery, insulate electrical components, transport fluids, and dampen vibrations. However, rubber is highly susceptible to dry rot—a degenerative process that causes the material to crack, brittle, and ultimately fail.
Workplace debris can chemically react with rubber or cause mechanical abrasion that speeds up cracking. That’s
Keep spare parts in airtight bags or bins to prevent oxidation.
Oxygen reacts with rubber, causing oxidation, while ozone attacks unsaturated rubbers (like natural rubber), causing cracking. Heat: Extreme heat accelerates chemical degradation.
A dull, gray, or chalky appearance replacing a vibrant black or colored finish.
What are you trying to protect? (e.g., vehicle tires, conveyor belts, small O-rings, safety gear)