Plastic + Lithium Grease = Brittle?
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Would applying lithium grease to plastic make it brittle? I greased the clips on my new passenger grab handle when i installed it, and a year later, the clips broke when my friend touched it. So should i leave the new handle dry when i put it in?
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Any kind of petroleum-based grease will contain emulsifiers, surfactants, and especially breakdown products, that could attack petroleum-based plastics and rubbers. This property will increase with age, as the petroleum breakdown is accelerated by exposure to heat and UV.
In short, the use of petroleum-based lubricants can accelerate the "natural" heat and UV degradation of certain plastics.
For vinyl, plastic and rubber...particularly on interior parts...I would advise you to stick to silicone-based lubricants (or perhaps synthetics that specifically state they are OK for use on plastics--though this is a distant second best, in that these products will still contain emulsifiers and surfactants that can soften or damage certain plastics).
In short, the use of petroleum-based lubricants can accelerate the "natural" heat and UV degradation of certain plastics.
For vinyl, plastic and rubber...particularly on interior parts...I would advise you to stick to silicone-based lubricants (or perhaps synthetics that specifically state they are OK for use on plastics--though this is a distant second best, in that these products will still contain emulsifiers and surfactants that can soften or damage certain plastics).
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