Talk:Ebonite

Name
The substance at issue has been called "hard rubber" for many years. "Ebonite" and "vulcanite" are diluted and archaic trademarks. Although dictionaries, incluhding the OED, support the use of these trademarks, general usage does not. Donfbreed (talk) 23:54, 18 February 2011 (UTC)


 * Do you have any citation for "hard rubber" having a significantly greater use than Ebonite? In the field of fountain pen collecting for one, ebonite is the general term as a genericized trademark. In electrical insulators, I've never heard either term other than ebonite used. Andy Dingley (talk) 00:15, 19 February 2011 (UTC)


 * And of course Ebonite Bowling Balls, which are somewhat more common than Ebonite Fountain Pens. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2600:1700:6AE5:2510:0:0:0:24 (talk) 20:41, 31 March 2024 (UTC)

Dictionary
The dictionary reference is to Webster's Third International Dictionary, which is rarely used. The link leads to a portal open only to subscribers, who are few: essentially, it leads to a wall. Donfbreed (talk) 23:51, 18 February 2011 (UTC)

Weapon Usage
Hello humans. Back in 1975 I was involved with Navy shore patrol duties. I was issued a baton around 3 feet long and was told it was made of ebonite. It was hard and could be used spear-like to poke miscreants with the end of it or as a club as one would swing a baseball bat. The baton was hard and it felt as if there was a very small amount of flex to it when swung like a baseball bat. It was very hard and the grip was excellent...even in the hot and very humid tropical areas where I often did the shore patrol thing. Of course, when told the baton was ebonite and to treat it as a possible deadly weapon and to use it judiciously and carefully; to impose the minimum damage necessary to control a situation, the guy informing me of the batons material may have been mistaken. It was definitely a hard "plasticy" material and neither metal nor wood. I add this not to clarify or whatever but to toss in a personal experience with a material that may have been ebonite. Perhaps somebody can verify or clarify my input. Have a wonderful week and be nice!!!!Obbop (talk) 16:54, 8 January 2013 (UTC)

Formulation
The statement that Ebonite "may contain 25% to 80% Sulfur and Linseed Oil" is translated from a product pamphlet of dubious technical value. Sulfur can be used to vulcanize both Latex and Linseed Oil, but stating the combined percentage of Sulfur and Linseed Oil is nonsensical. The amount of Sulfur in "hard rubber" is roughly 10% (~ 30% in older processes which may or may not be still in use - These processes required the bulk melting of the Sulfur to initiate vulcanization), with Latex, Linseed Oil, other oils, and fillers (for color and/or modification of mechanical properties) comprising the bulk of the material - Thus Ebonite is a copolymer of natural rubber and Linseed Oil. Unfortunately I cannot find a good scientific reference for this formulation. Some proper technical book on Rubber must have a chapter on Hard Rubber, since it is largely used in the Bowling Ball manufacturing industry. The "Properties" section has contextual issues; failing to mention whether the properties referred to in any given case are the mechanical or dielectric properties.

See also: Science and Technology of Rubber (NOTE: "negbil" must be reversed to visit the protected link, sigh.)

2600:1709:6AE5:2510:0:0:0:24 (talk) 22:02, 6 April 2024 (UTC)