From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Properties and chemical resistance of 'Duprene' compound, a synthetic rubber alternative.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 168b\2\ img314 | |
| Date | 22th October 1936 | |
| c. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst. BY.7/G.22.10.36. 86148. "DUPRENE" COMPOUND. ==================== The Duprene compounds are a synthetic product which has in many ways the appearance and properties of rubber, i.e. it can be compounded and vulcanised in a similar manner to natural rubber, the degree to which compounding and vulcanising is resorted to varying for the particular service required in exactly the same way as one would vary rubber to increase its hardness. The material in question was first brought to my attention in connection with oil seals by the Angus Co. They have also supplied me at my request with jointing washers in this material for the oil filler cap on the engine and the filler cap on the petrol tank. I was not quite certain whether the compound known as 'Duprene' was precisely similar, but from the information which I now have it is quite clear to me that the parts which were supplied by the Angus Co. were also in 'Duprene'. I think it is a mistake to speak of it as 'Duprene rubber', as there is no rubber in the composition, if a piece of it is burnt with a match it has no smell of rubber, and furthermore it is almost completely resistant to vegetable oils and natural petroleum products, whereas rubber is, generally speaking, very seriously attacked by any of these liquids. There are three groups for oils and liquids in relation to their power to attack the Duprene compounds. Group 1. Duprene unaffected. Group 2. Duprene very slightly affected. Group 3. Deprene readily attacked. Group 1. Group 2. Group 3. Lubricating Oils. Petroleum Spirits. Benzene & Coal Tar Spirits. Vegetable Oils. Kerosine. Turpentine. Fuel Oils. Lacquer Thinners. Carbon Tetrachloride and other chlorinated solvents. | ||