Sticky Rubber Material

Several materials such as xylene acetone and ammonia will work to dissolve the sticky surface of the rubber which is vulcanizing back to its original state due to oxygen and uv exposure.

Sticky rubber material.

Rubber can become sticky for any number of reasons. Xylene though is very strong and can easily ruin with long exposure. After a little research it seems that some plastic items might have some sort of coating that breaks down over time and becomes sticky. Well if you remember what we said in our earlier blog natural rubber comes from plants and synthetic rubber is made from petroleum products.

Natural or synthetic rubber starts out as a very sticky substance. Find plain and adhesive backed rubber strips and rubber sheet stock in types such as nitrile which is ideal for gaskets sealing and equipment protection. I tried cleaning it with rubbing alcohol which didn t help at all. The trick is to clean off the coating.

Quick video on how to clean old plastic or rubber that s deteriorated and has become sticky and or oily. Get hypalon sheets that are commonly used for roofing or neoprene which is available in general purpose and food grades. To get rid of the stuck on residue you must use something that dissolves the stickiness without harming the rubber. For example the rubber tree emits a sticky syrup that we can refine into rubber.

Acetone i found to be a safer option. In both cases the material that will become rubber starts out life in a sticky condition. Foam rubber seal strip tape 2 rolls 2 inch wide x 1 4 inch thick foam adhesive strips closed cell foam tape automotive weather stripping total 13 feet long 2 x 6 5 ft each 4 4 out of 5 stars 3 403. Get hypalon sheets that are commonly used for roofing or neoprene which is available in general purpose and food grades.

Shoes can leave tracks on a rubber floor mat or food can be left behind on a rubber spatula. To turn that raw material into the rubber we all know and love you have to put it through a process called vulcanisation.