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dry-rotted

English translation: brittle from drying out

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:dry-rotted
Selected answer:brittle from drying out
Entered by: Stephanie Ezrol

16:23 Sep 28, 2010
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Engineering (general) / (sponge rubbers)
English term or phrase: dry-rotted
The term is used in a packaging machine manual.

This is what is said about the sponge rubbers that hold the bag during the process:

"When these sponge rubbers become damaged, worn or dry-rotted, they should be replaced."

I know that sponge rubbers can in time become brittle or hardened (or both), but I am interested which one is the meaning of dry-rotten or does it mean both.
Timo Lehtilä
Finland
Local time: 03:22
brittle from drying out
Explanation:
I found a few discussion of dry rot and rubber on university websites. There are also discussions to be found by auto mechanics about dry rot in tires. They all seem to talking about brittleness that occurs because the rubber is drying out.


"Dry rot of rubber or cracking of plastic caused by sunlight

Sunlight can cause dry rot of rubber or cracking of plastic"

http://www.ppp.purdue.edu/Pubs/PPP-89.pdf

"Tires need a minimum amount of 1/4" of tread (check with your state Division of Motor Vehicles for the measurement); they should be adequately inflated and have no signs of dry rot cracks. Spare tires also should be checked."

http://www.esc.rutgers.edu/publications/howto/FS607.htm


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Note added at 37 mins (2010-09-28 17:01:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

AND FROM A WEBSITE ABOUT AIR CONDITION SYSTEMS and the rubber nozzles:

ACBs (active chilled beams) equipped with rubber nozzles may need to be replaced as a result of dry rot within their service life.

http://doas-radiant.psu.edu/Active_Chilled_Beam_design_consi...

I am not an expert in the field, but I have been checking University websites, and this does seem be the same type of context as your text -- talking about rubber degrading and losing its elastiscity as well as cracking as it dries out.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 42 mins (2010-09-28 17:05:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

MORE on car tires (rubber)

"Cracks can come with age and can often be a sign of
dry rot. Look for a code (usually found on the sidewall of the tire)
that indicates when the tire was manufactured"

http://www.unf.edu/uploadedFiles/anf/ehs/January 2010.pdf

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 hrs (2010-09-29 10:30:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

To go back to your question: I think the answer is both, brittle and hard. Rubber as is dries becomes hard and loses its elasticity, and also becomes brittle.
Selected response from:

Stephanie Ezrol
United States
Local time: 20:22
Grading comment
Thank you for an extensive comprehensive answer.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +4brittle from drying out
Stephanie Ezrol
5Am just offering help with the English :)
Frankel
4frayed, torn,
Bashiqa
3crumbly
B D Finch


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
dry-rotten
Am just offering help with the English :)


Explanation:
Hi Timo,
Dry rot is a little different from being brittle or hardened - it is to do with damage caused by a type of fungus. Have a look at the links below.
Lucy


    Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_rot
    Reference: http://www.safeguardeurope.com/applications/dry_rot.php
Frankel
Local time: 01:22
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Arabic & More: This use applies to wood, but not to rubber. See Stephanie's explanation as well as the following link (last paragraph): http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-dry-rot.htm
4 hrs
neutral  Tony M: It seems clear that this is being used in a rather figurative way here.
6 hrs
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15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
dry-rotten
frayed, torn,


Explanation:
As is the case with the sponge you use in washing up. in time they become 'frayed or torn or worn-out'. Not very technical, but similar situation in your machine.

Bashiqa
France
Local time: 02:22
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 3
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
crumbly


Explanation:
That is how I'd describe the rather unpleasant mess that sponge rubber gets into when it dry-rots.

B D Finch
France
Local time: 02:22
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 16
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

28 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
dry-rotten
brittle from drying out


Explanation:
I found a few discussion of dry rot and rubber on university websites. There are also discussions to be found by auto mechanics about dry rot in tires. They all seem to talking about brittleness that occurs because the rubber is drying out.


"Dry rot of rubber or cracking of plastic caused by sunlight

Sunlight can cause dry rot of rubber or cracking of plastic"

http://www.ppp.purdue.edu/Pubs/PPP-89.pdf

"Tires need a minimum amount of 1/4" of tread (check with your state Division of Motor Vehicles for the measurement); they should be adequately inflated and have no signs of dry rot cracks. Spare tires also should be checked."

http://www.esc.rutgers.edu/publications/howto/FS607.htm


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 37 mins (2010-09-28 17:01:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

AND FROM A WEBSITE ABOUT AIR CONDITION SYSTEMS and the rubber nozzles:

ACBs (active chilled beams) equipped with rubber nozzles may need to be replaced as a result of dry rot within their service life.

http://doas-radiant.psu.edu/Active_Chilled_Beam_design_consi...

I am not an expert in the field, but I have been checking University websites, and this does seem be the same type of context as your text -- talking about rubber degrading and losing its elastiscity as well as cracking as it dries out.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 42 mins (2010-09-28 17:05:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

MORE on car tires (rubber)

"Cracks can come with age and can often be a sign of
dry rot. Look for a code (usually found on the sidewall of the tire)
that indicates when the tire was manufactured"

http://www.unf.edu/uploadedFiles/anf/ehs/January 2010.pdf

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 hrs (2010-09-29 10:30:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

To go back to your question: I think the answer is both, brittle and hard. Rubber as is dries becomes hard and loses its elasticity, and also becomes brittle.

Stephanie Ezrol
United States
Local time: 20:22
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 19
Grading comment
Thank you for an extensive comprehensive answer.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Arabic & More: Also see this link (last paragraph): http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-dry-rot.htm
4 hrs
  -> Thanks Amel !
agree  Tony M: Yes, sometimes old cushions just disintegrate to a kind of powder, for example.
6 hrs
  -> Thanks Tony ! I would hate to driving with a tire that was really damaged in this way.
agree  Richard McDorman
7 hrs
  -> Thanks Richard !
agree  Phong Le
1 day 11 hrs
  -> Thanks Phong Le !
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