talkmagic.co.uk

So recently I've been working through a few rubber band routines and I've been looking at the SLR concept of ending with 'impossible' linked bands, pondering whether it could be extended into other impossible final states, such as two bands of different colours joining into one band of two colours (in the style of missing linkage).

Admittedly I started down this line wondering whether I could make my own linked band refills cheaper than the ones available, but the idea of linking different things, silly bands (they return to amusing shapes when not under tension) or bands of multiple colours as mentioned above started to stick with me as a reason to find out how even if it turns out more expensive.

Of course the effect is ruined if the band is obviously glued at some point. I'm no chemist so I don't know the details but after manufacture rubber bands are vulcanised to make them retain their shape, so that they don't melt (which means they probably can't be melted together), what I'm wondering is if there's some way to undo this, soften them somehow (using the rubber equivalent of acetone if such a thing exists), bond them and resolidify them (re-vulcanise?), or is the only way to make things of this nature to literally start from unprocessed latex and manufacture them from start to finish in the 'impossible' state?

Is there a scientist in the house?

-Stacy

I do not know a great deal about this however I know that rubber can definitely be devulcanised as it needs to be put through this process for recycling. Commercially I think that ultrasonic waves are used, as to how you would achieve this on a local, smaller scale I am unsure but I would start by contacting your local recycling plant and asking if they can give you an idea of the process and the chemicals they may use as I would expect ultrasound is a relatively new application and there must have been a method to achieve this prior to that.

Superglue (cyanoacrylate) joins rubber very successfully but you have to be very neat and not use excess glue.

In the interests of keeping people up to date, Mandrake was right. I had attempted to use cyanoacrylate as suggested,but was left with unsatisfactory joints.

Having invested in a booklet called Linked 4 Life, which is a permanent rubber band linking routine, I found a description of the technique to use superglue to close a cut band and not leave a huge lump of glue on the band.

I'd share it but given that the method is for sale in a book it's not really my place to do so. But for anyone who still cares: yes, the way to go is superglue. The liquid type, not these gels.

-Stacy