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Re: Synthetic brake fluid

To: Larry Dent <lwdent@fwi.com>
Subject: Re: Synthetic brake fluid
From: Mark Haynes <haynes386@netzero.net>
Date: Tue, 03 Jun 2003 09:15:35 -0600
>Larry Hoy wrote:
>  
>
>>Something I've always wondered.  Is the swelling of rubber brake
>>components related to the early or old rubber compounds that are often
>>found in our cars; or, is it related to using the wrong brake fluid?  It
>>would seem in this day and age all fluids ought to be compatable with
>>all 'new' rubber compounds.
>>
>>What does the 'group' think about this?
>>
>>
>>      If my memory serves, the older seals were Butyl rubber, man's first 
>attempt at 'synthetic' rubber. The problem with butyl rubber is that it has 
>few strong sulfur-sulfur bonds and therefore it is easily affected by other 
>materials which have an affinity for it's ions, and can place parts of 
>themselves into the structure of the rubber itself (hence the swelling, as the 
>amount of material molecule-wise increases). 
>>
>>      The current, or modern, synthetic rubber seals are usually Nitrile, 
>which has more sulfur-sulfur bonds as well as a nitrogen component which tends 
>to lower the reactivity of the rubber to things like alcohols and certain 
>oils.                      Therefore, the use of NOS seals should probably be 
>avoided given the advancement in elastomeric technology and fluids technology 
>as well. The newer elastomers are probably more well suited to the use of the 
>newer fluids type of fluid being immaterial. If you are looking for the best 
>of the newer elastomers, check out fluoropolymers, they are touted to be inert 
>in many of the more aggresive environments, but they are relatively soft and 
>can wear quickly if used in a sliding mode
>>
>               Mark Haynes RMVR

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