scope:

This handbook provides guidance for establishing time periods for the expected life of elastomeric products during shelf storage. The use of the expected shelf storage lives listed herein is NOT MADE MANDATORY by this handbook. This handbook is for guidance only and cannot be cited as a requirement. The decision as to whether or not a product will have a limit placed upon the time that it may remain in storage is a function of the agency responsible for the product's ultimate use.

Applicability. The handbook covers only elastomeric products described by Government specifications and standards or by nationally recognized technical society specifications and standards. The documents defining the items covered by this handbook were selected from the following sources:

a. Acquisition Streamlining and Standardization Information System (ASSIST) (available from https://assist.dla.mil/ or from the Standardization Document Order Desk, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094).

b. SAE International (available from www.sae.org or from SAE International, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001).

c. National Aerospace Standards (NAS) (available from www.aia-aerospace.org or from Aerospace Industries Association of America, Inc., 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1700, Arlington, VA 22209).

d. ASTM International (available from www.astm.org or from ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959).

Products included. The types of elastomeric products covered by this handbook are as follows:

a. Products fabricated solely from rubber. These include solid rubber, cellular rubber and hard rubber (ebonite) items.

b. Composites in which the rubber is present as a discrete phase. Examples are cables, fabric reinforced gaskets, non-aerospace hoses, rubber coated fabrics, shock mounts and tires.

c. Kits, accessories and outfits. The shelf life for these items should be determined by the component with the earliest expiration date.

Products excluded. The types of products excluded from this handbook are as follows:

a. Rubber-base adhesives, coatings, sealers, and liquid rubber materials packaged in cans or tubes.

b. Rubber tapes.

c. Aerospace o-rings and other molded seals. Refer to SAE ARP5316 for recommended shelf lives.

d. Aerospace bulk hoses and hose assemblies. Consult SAE AS1933 for age control limits for acceptance of aerospace bulk hoses and hose assemblies.

e. Non-aerospace bulk hoses and hose assembles (surface vehicle, industrial and marine application). Consult SAE J517 for age control limits for acceptance of non-aerospace bulk hoses and hose assemblies.

f. Unvulcanized rubber, such as tread repair stock and tank lining sheet stock.

g. Composites in which the rubber is in admixture with other ingredients, for example, rubberasbestos packings and rubber-cork gaskets.

h. Subassemblies, assemblies and systems which contain elastomeric items as component parts, such as small arms, weapons, vehicles, aircraft, missiles and space vehicles.

i. Products fabricated from flexible materials that are not elastomeric, for example, some plastics.

intended Use: