scope:

The handbook covers only those 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. Department of Defense Index of Specifications and Standards (DODISS) (available from Defense Automated Printing Service (DAPS), ATTN: DODSSP, Code NPP-9, Bldg. 4/D, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094).

b. Aerospace Materials Specifications (AMS) Index and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Handbook (both available from Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001).

c. National Aerospace Standards (NAS) (published and distributed by Aerospace Industries Association of America, Inc., 1250 I Street NW, Suite 1100, Washington DC 20005-3924).

d. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Specifications (available from American Society for Testing and Materials, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959).

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 hose, 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.

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. O-rings and other molded seals. Refer to SAE ARP5316 for recommended shelf lives.

d. Aerospace hoses and hose assemblies. Consult SAE AS1933A for age limits for acceptance of aerospace hoses and hose assemblies.

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

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

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

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

intended Use: