Defiant_Child
lvl.1
Flight distance : 105010 ft
United States
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tokenbrit Posted at 2017-1-16 15:03
"If you haven’t used a set of propellers for more than 50 flights, but they’re over a year old, still change them, as the threads will degrade over time from exposure to air."
Air does not deteriorate plastic, rather mousture and other contaminants can cause "hydrolysis", a chemical process that causes certain chemical bonds to break or "unzip" leading to their deterioration. In addition, UV light (from the sun's rays) also contributed to polymeric deterioration. To the extent that props are molded using thermoplastic alloys (as opposed to thermoset resins) exposure to heat may cause warpage.
I haven't studied how props are molded nor what polymers or alloys are used, but a good rule of thumb is if you know that plastic parts are prone to deteriorate in the presence of moisture, UV, or heat, is to store those parts in a cool, dark, and dry place when not in use. Keep fresh desiccant (moisture scavenging) bags with the items you store and wish to protect.
Since I'm new to the forum (but not to polymers) and this is my first post, I am happy to defer to the greater and sage wisdom of others (except about reading manuals. I never read manuals.)
Cheers! |
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