Biologic Degradation of Rubber Gaskets Used for Sealing Pipe Joints

Abstract

This article discusses the examination of a representative number of American gaskets with regard to their resistance to biologic attack, under exactly the same conditions under which the Dutch rings were tested, which was reported in a previous article on the degradation of natural rubber gaskets used for sealing joints of asbestos‐cement pipes in the Netherlands. Sixty‐eight gaskets were tested; with regard to the compounding, 19 gaskets were manufactured from natural rubber or synthetic polyisoprene, 46 from different kinds of synthetic rubber, and three were mixed compounds. The test was carried out with the same dune water used in the experiments with Dutch rings and was continued for two years. All samples were tested in duplicate.