What material is this? Plastic or hard rubber?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying the material of a boat buffer, specifically whether it is plastic or hard rubber. Participants analyze visual clues and share their interpretations based on a provided image.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the material is likely either plastic or hard rubber based on the image.
  • One participant proposes that it could be a block of recycled mixed plastics, citing clues from the rub marks and the shape of the object.
  • Another participant expresses uncertainty, stating that the material could be anything, including metal, based solely on the image.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the material is likely one of a few options, but there is significant uncertainty and disagreement about the specific identification.

Contextual Notes

The discussion relies heavily on visual interpretation, and participants acknowledge that their conclusions are limited by the quality and content of the image.

Andros123
Used as a boat buffer.
 

Attachments

  • 20170715_160647.jpg
    20170715_160647.jpg
    74.6 KB · Views: 673
Engineering news on Phys.org
Andros123 said:
What material is this? Plastic or hard rubber
Yeah, based on that pic, I'd guess that it's probably one or the other.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Asymptotic, Vanadium 50 and Nidum
phinds said:
Yeah, based on that pic, I'd guess that it's probably one or the other.
Yes, i kind of guessed that.
 
Best guess would be that it is a baulk of recycled mixed plastics .

Very common in this sort of application and relatively very cheap .

There are some useful clues in the rub marks and especially in that circular hole .

Also a further clue in the reasonably accurate square edged form of the baulk .
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Asymptotic and Andros123
Andros123 said:
Yes, i kind of guessed that.
My point was that based on nothing but that pic, it could be damned near anything. I couldn't even rule out metal just based on the pic.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Asymptotic

Similar threads

Is there a better substitute than rubber?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
What kind of rubber is "Environmentally Friendly Rubber Material"?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Processing plastic for recycling
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
What can glue condom material to hard plastic?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
Does silicone as hard as plastic exist?
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
9K
Shrinkage & Expansion of plastic parts
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
What Material absorbs shock better? Rubber or plastic?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
20K
What kind of plastic is best for this loudspeaker enclosure?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
What is this clay and rubberish metarial?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Need a surface mount seal for chemical cabinet door
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K