Klarinet Archive - Posting 000164.txt from 2001/11

From: "Karl Krelove" <kkrelove@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Mouthpiece life span
Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2001 11:29:45 -0500

> -----Original Message-----
> From: CLARK FOBES [mailto:reedman@-----.com]
> Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2001 5:43 PM
>
> Hard rubber mouthpieces are a blend of rubber and other materials and,
> depending on the mix , will have varying degrees of hardness. Sulphur is
an
> agent used in rubber mouthpieces to make them hard. As mouthpieces age the
> sulphur begins to migrate out (this results in the slight gray or olive
> green color of older mouthpieces). As the sulphur migrates out the rubber
> becomes softer and less stable. Some players insist that the "old rubber"
> sounds better. It may be that they like the warmth of rubber that has aged
> and become less resilient.
>
Clark, can you elaborate on this a little more? How does the sulfur migrate
out (and are there ways to slow or prevent the process)? What exactly is the
consequence of softening as the sulfur leaves - does the rubber remain
elastic, as I guess it would be when new (which should argue for no loss of
resilience, only perhaps less resistance to temporary distortion during
use), or does it somehow take on a mushier, more malleable character that
leaves it more vulnerable to permanent distortion?

TIA

Karl Krelove

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