| Author | Message | ||
     Philacamera Tinkerer Username: Philacamera Post Number: 8 Registered: 01-2010 Rating: N/A |
Neoprene or any kind of urethane "rubber" begans to decompose (via re-liquification) after about 20 years, turning into the gummy mess any vintage camera fan is familiar with. This is the case in light seals or mold making, and as with anything, the exact timetable has a lot to do with the storage conditions. Now, light seals also often have the compression factor which may shorten that life expectancy a good deal, but 20 years should be considered a "maximum life span in captivity" estimate. I used to sell these foams & rubbers in liquid form at an art supply store, so this question came up often, albeit in a different context. |