Thanks - that article was written maybe 15-20 years ago now. I'm sure a lot has changed since then, but should still be accurate information (at least for the time frame.)
I suspect the OP is looking for more generalizations - like when to use a mineral spirit based prep versus a high flash point /highly evaporate prep.
Keep in mind that some chemicals pull oil out of the rubber while others help drive it in. Does the chemical open the pores of the rubber or close them? Does it evaporate quickly or slowly? Do they soften the rubber or simply condition (make more pliable) the rubber by adding oils?
Most softeners (acetone, Xylene, MEK, etc) are very harsh and will soften dramatically. They also dry rubber out and evaporate quickly. Something with a mineral spirit base will evaporate more slowly.
Then you get into elasticizers, and plasticizers. Rubber modifiers that change the rubber significantly. Solvents and the such do enough to change the molecular structure of the rubber itself, things get much trickier when you staring looking at things under a microscope.
There's no magic bullet chemical that will do it all. Some preps are mixed with as many as 6 components....finding the "right" mix of those can take years of mixing and testing. I don't think that Randy, Matt, Josh, or myself are going to be divulging any of our current product recipes anytime soon.
This is why I always tell people to work with one prep line and stick with it (pun intended.) It takes far too long to learn what chemicals do what and how much of which to mix to be competitive. It takes years and hundreds of sets of tires ruined. And by the time you even think you've got it figured out, the chemical suppliers change their product slightly or makes it so expensive that it's not feasible to mix anymore.
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Thanks and God bless,
Brian Carlson
Carlson Racing Engines
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