Specifically, the crap they use to seal headlights and tails. I would like to take an honest stab at the temp my oven needs to be at so I don’t melt a set of Chinese tail lights. the sealant is black and gooey, but it hardens when cooled, just like the genuine stuff they use on OEM lights.
Not a scientist, but need to find a better temperature range than what the people of Facebook recommend. I’ve seen oven temperatures of 200-375° mentioned, and every variance of time in between. Google sucks for this.
Who here has succeeded in taking Chinese headlights apart without melting them?
I have! 275 for 20 minutes. If still too stuck, another 10 does it.
In reply to Dusterbd13-michael :
We’re these OEM style lights or Chinese eBay specials like I have?
No idea if I’m dealing with the same substance, but according to this website, butyl has a temp range of up to 248° https://polymerdatabase.com/Elastomers/Butyl.html
again, I’m no scientist. So I don’t know if that means it catches fire at 248°, or if it’s done being a polymer at that temp.
Both. Subaru and mazda and nepn, oem, chinesium, and depo. All have been in the oven.
_ said:
again, I’m no scientist. So I don’t know if that means it catches fire at 248°, or if it’s done being a polymer at that temp.
I am. I have a BS in polymer and textile chemistry. Pure butyl wont burn at 248*F, it will get soft. But every maker uses different versions of the base chemical so the book values will only be approximations. But baking it at 275 is probably a safe bet. Unless the molded parts are the cheapest crap imaginable they'll be fine at that temp.
In reply to ultraclyde :
Exactly the answers I needed! Thank you both!
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