I'm the commodity manager for compounds and chemicals for a company that
produces hose and tube for OEM and aftermarket autos. You really wouldn't
believe what goes into making rubber. The good old rubber tree produces
WAY less than 1% of the "stuff" that goes into modern rubber. Modern hoses
and seals rely on advanced chemistry, petrolueum products, pine tar, wax,
ultrafine carbon black, you name it and it's probably in a recipe.
My point is there are very specific recipes for each application. Some
materials resist oils, others resist fuel, still others for glycol. To add
to the confusion, the auto makers won't agree on one type of fluid for each
application, so there will be a different rubber compound for Ford,
Chrysler, GM, Toyota, .....
Operating pressures come into play as well. So if a diaphragm fails, take
a look at the application first. read the fine print on the box an on the
installation sheets. You might find you're using something in a manner it
wasn't intended.
Unfortunately, that can get you killed, QUICKLY. Everyone knows gasoline
burns rapidly, but so do power steering fluid and transmission fluid.
Forgive the rant, but it isn't always the product, sometimes it's how the
product is used.
Tommy
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