1. Environmental factors
● Oxygen and ozone: Oxygen and ozone are one of the main culprits of rubber aging. They can react with rubber molecules in free radical chains, causing molecular chains to break or over-crosslink, thus altering the properties of rubber. Although the product has been specially treated to improve its aging resistance, it can still be affected by long-term exposure to high concentrations of ozone.
● Heat: Increasing the temperature will accelerate the thermal cracking or thermal cross-linking of rubber, promote oxidation reaction, and lead to thermal-oxidative aging. Rubber hoses that operate in high-temperature environments, such as steam pipes and radiator pipes, are more susceptible to these effects.
● Light: Ultraviolet rays are the main culprits of photoaging, which directly causes the breakage and cross-linking of rubber molecular chains, and at the same time absorbs the free radicals generated by light energy and accelerates the oxidation chain reaction.
● Moisture: When rubber is soaked in a humid environment or water, water-soluble substances and water groups and other components are easily extracted and dissolved by water, causing hydrolysis or absorption and accelerating aging.
2. Media factors
The medium conveyed by the rubber hose also has a significant impact on the rate of aging. For example, corrosive media such as oils and chemicals can accelerate the aging process of rubber. Although the chemical hose and food hose of the technology have excellent corrosion resistance, they still need to be taken care of when they are exposed to certain media for a long time.
3. Mechanical stress
Repeated mechanical stress will cause the rubber molecular chain to break and form free radicals, which in turn will trigger the oxidation chain reaction. Excessive bending, stretching or squeezing of the hose during installation and use will accelerate aging.