How can you dissolve rubber?

Vulcanized rubber swells when in prolonged contact with aggressive media, but does not dissolve because the polymer chains are connected into a three-dimensional network. Depending on the rubber material, chemicals such as gasoline, acetone, or mineral oil are used to cause swelling. During the swelling process, molecules of the solvent penetrate between the polymer chains and increase the volume of the rubber. With prolonged exposure, the rubber can swell so much that it can be detached by mechanical force.

Which solvent reacts with which rubber?

The extent to which a rubber swells in a solvent depends on how similar the polarity of the rubber and the solvent is. The more similar the polarity, the stronger the swelling. Unpolar main chains such as those in natural rubber (NR) and EPDM swell strongly in mineral oil and gasoline, but are resistant to polar media such as water. The polar nitrile rubber (NBR) behaves in contrast: it is oil-resistant, but swells in ketones such as acetone and esters.

Can you remove rubber by heat?

Rubber can be thermally separated from metal parts by heating it in a melting furnace at about 400 to 500 °C. What remains are soot and ash, which are then removed by radiation or washing. In this way, for example, metal cores from rubber-metal parts can be reprocessed. When heated outdoors without control, rubber develops dense, black smoke, which is known from tire fires.