Softening composition for rubber product, method for restoring flexibility of rubber product, method for removing rubber product, softening agent for rubber product, evaporation inhibitor, and evaporation inhibitor for acetone

Abstract

To provide a rubber product softening accelerator that softens hardened rubber products rapidly, and a softening composition for rubber products, a method for restoring flexibility of rubber products, and a method for removing rubber products.SOLUTION: A softening composition for rubber products is intended to soften a hardened rubber product rapidly, including a rubber product softening agent that softens a rubber product, and an evaporation inhibitor that dissolves in the rubber product softening agent. The rubber product softening agent softens the rubber product upon contact therewith, and examples of which are acetone. The evaporation inhibitor suppresses evaporation of the rubber product softening agent, and is preferably dissolvable therein, examples of which include silicone oil.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a softening composition for rubber products, a method for restoring flexibility to rubber products, a method for removing rubber products, a softening agent for rubber products, an evaporation inhibitor, and an evaporation inhibitor for acetone. [Background technology]

[0002] It is known that rubber products harden over time. For this reason, when removing rubber products attached to parts such as automobile or motorcycle engines, a method is known in which the rubber products are immersed in waste oil to soften them (for example, Non-Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] "The Miraculous Revival of Hardened Rubber Products: We were able to revive them to a soft state using waste oil!" Young Machine, September 25, 2023 https: / / young-machine.com / creator / 2023 / 09 / 25 / 488414 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in order to soften rubber products, they need to be soaked in waste oil for a long period of time, about one month.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a softening composition for rubber products for softening hardened rubber products in a short period of time, a method for restoring flexibility to rubber products, a method for removing rubber products, a softening agent for rubber products, an evaporation inhibitor, and an evaporation inhibitor for acetone. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The softening composition for rubber products of the present invention comprises a softener for rubber products for softening rubber products and an evaporation inhibitor for inhibiting evaporation of the softener for rubber products in the rubber product, wherein the rubber product is silicone rubber, the softener for rubber products comprises acetone, and the evaporation inhibitor is soluble in the softener for rubber products.

[0007] The evaporation inhibitor preferably contains silicone oil. The concentration of the softener for rubber products is preferably 5% by weight or more and 95% by weight or less.

[0008] The method for restoring flexibility to a rubber product of the present invention is characterized by comprising an immersion step of immersing a cured rubber product in the softening composition for rubber products described above.

[0009] The method for removing a rubber product of the present invention is characterized in that the method comprises a part comprising a cured rubber product and a separate product to which the rubber product is attached, and comprises an immersion step of immersing the part in the softening composition for rubber products described above, a removal step of removing the rubber part from the softening composition for rubber products, and a removal step of removing the rubber product from the separate product.

[0010] The softener for rubber products of the present invention is characterized by containing acetone.

[0011] The evaporation inhibitor of the present invention is characterized by containing silicone oil.

[0012] The evaporation inhibitor for acetone of the present invention is characterized by containing silicone oil. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a softening composition for rubber products for softening hardened rubber products in a short period of time, a method for restoring flexibility to rubber products, a method for removing rubber products, a softening agent for rubber products, an evaporation inhibitor, and an evaporation inhibitor for acetone. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a flowchart showing an outline of a method for removing a rubber product. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The softening composition for rubber products is intended to soften hardened rubber products in a short time, and contains a softening agent for rubber products for softening the rubber products, and an evaporation inhibitor that dissolves in the softening agent for rubber products.

[0016] Examples of rubber products include insulators, manifolds, and rubber hoses used in motorcycles and cars. Materials used for rubber products include silicone rubber. A cured rubber product is one that has been exposed to the environment in which the rubber product is used for a specified period of time (e.g., 3 to 10 years) and has hardened.

[0017] A softener for rubber products softens rubber products when it comes into contact with the rubber product, and examples thereof include acetone. As a guideline for softeners for rubber products, the volume swelling ratio of the rubber product material is 101% or more and 130% or less, and preferably 101% or more and 120% or less. Among these, acetone is particularly preferred.

[0018] Here, the volume swelling ratio is the rate of change (= V1 / V0 × 100) of the volume of a rubber product (volume V1) when the rubber product (volume V0) is immersed in the target material (softener for rubber products, etc.) in a 25°C environment for 70 hours.

[0019] The evaporation inhibitor inhibits the evaporation of the softener for rubber products. The evaporation inhibitor is preferably one that dissolves in the softener for rubber products, such as silicone oil. The evaporation inhibitor has a volumetric swelling ratio of 101% or more and 130% or less, preferably 101% or more and 120% or less, relative to the material of the rubber product. Among these, silicone oil is particularly preferred. Silicone oil, in particular, has a high ability to inhibit the evaporation of acetone, and can therefore be used as an evaporation inhibitor for acetone.

[0020] The concentration of the softener for rubber products in the softening composition for rubber products is preferably 5% by weight or more and 95% by weight or less, and the concentration of the evaporation inhibitor in the softening composition for rubber products is preferably 5% by weight or more and 95% by weight or less.

[0021] The cured rubber product can be softened by immersing it in the softening composition for rubber products for a predetermined period of time. The temperature of the softening composition for rubber products is not particularly limited, but is preferably 10°C or higher and 80°C or lower, and more preferably 15°C or higher and 40°C or lower.

[0022] Next, a rubber product removal method 100 will be described.

[0023] The method 100 for removing a rubber product is characterized by comprising an immersion step 110 in which a part comprising a cured rubber product and another product to which the rubber product is attached is immersed in a softening composition for rubber products, a removal step 120 in which the part is removed from the softener, and a removal step 130 in which the rubber product is removed from the other product.

[0024] In the immersion step 110, the entire part is immersed in the softening composition for rubber products. The temperature of the softening composition for rubber products is not particularly limited, but is preferably 10° C. or higher and 80° C. or lower, and more preferably 15 to 30° C. The time for which the immersion step 110 is performed is not limited as long as it is not contrary to the spirit of the present invention, but is, for example, 10 minutes to 48 hours.

[0025] In the removal step 120, the entire part is removed from the rubber softening composition.

[0026] In the removal step 130, the rubber product is removed from the rubber product softening composition in parts from the other product.

[0027] Because the immersion step 110 is performed before the removal step 130, the rubber product is soft enough to be removed. Therefore, the rubber product can be removed in a short time from components that contain hardened rubber products.

[0028] <Example> Experiments A1 to A6 were conducted.

[0029] (Experiment A1) The rubber product removal method 100 shown in Fig. 1 was carried out. In the immersion step 110, the entire part was immersed in a rubber product softening composition. The temperature of the rubber product softening composition was 25°C, and the immersion step 110 was carried out for 20 minutes.

[0030] The components of the softening composition for rubber products used here are as follows: Acetone 10% by weight Silicone oil 90% by weight

[0031] After the immersion step 110, the entire part was removed from the rubber product softening composition in the removal step 120. Then, in the removal step 130, the rubber product was removed from the other product in the part from the rubber product softening composition.

[0032] (Experiments A2 to A6) Method 100 for removing rubber products was carried out in the same manner as in Experiment A1, except for the conditions shown in Table 1. The softening composition for rubber products did not contain any components other than acetone and silicone oil.

[0033] [Table 1]

[0034] In the removal step 130 of Experiments A1 to A6, the following evaluations were made. Evaluation item 1: Whether the flexibility of the rubber product was restored or not Evaluation item 2: Whether or not the rubber product could be removed by hand from another product The evaluation results are shown in Table 1.

[0035] Furthermore, in Experiments A1 to A4, it was confirmed that the flexibility of the rubber product was maintained even after one month or more had passed since the completion of the removal step 130.

[0036] Thus, according to the present invention, the rubber product is softened in a short period of time by immersing the entire part in the rubber product softening composition, which makes it easier to remove the rubber product.

[0037] Furthermore, when rubber products such as insulators connecting a carburetor to an engine's cylinder head harden, the adhesion between the carburetor and the engine decreases. As a result, outside air enters the cylinder head, causing the ideal gas mixture concentration to deviate. In such cases, the engine will malfunction. The softening composition for rubber products restores the flexibility of the rubber product, thereby improving the adhesion between the rubber product and other products (such as a carburetor or engine).

[0038] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. a softener for rubber products for softening the rubber products; an evaporation inhibitor that inhibits evaporation of the softener for rubber products in the rubber product, the rubber product is silicone rubber, The softener for rubber products contains acetone, The softening composition for rubber products is characterized in that the evaporation inhibitor is soluble in the softening agent for rubber products.

2. 2. The softening composition for rubber products according to claim 1, wherein the evaporation inhibitor comprises silicone oil.

3. 3. The softening composition for rubber products according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of the softening agent for rubber products is 5% by weight or more and 95% by weight or less.

4. A method for restoring flexibility to a rubber product, comprising the step of immersing a cured rubber product in the softening composition for rubber products according to claim 1 or 2.

5. A part including a cured rubber product and another product to which the rubber product is attached, comprising: an immersion step of immersing the part in the rubber product softening composition according to claim 1 or 2; a removing step of removing the rubber part from the rubber product softening composition; a removal step of removing the rubber product from the other product.

6. A softener for rubber products, comprising acetone.

7. An evaporation inhibitor comprising silicone oil.

8. An evaporation inhibitor for acetone, characterized by containing silicone oil.

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