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The odor associated with Chinese rubber and plastics Login/Join 
Three Generations
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Picture of PHPaul
posted
Does anybody know why Chinese rubber and plastic products reek like they do? I assume it's some component/chemical they use in the process.

And their "rubber" is so freakin' STIFF. Jacketed power cords so stiff you can't unbend them when you unpack a device, grommets that crack before you can manipulate them enough to get them in the hole, etc. etc.

I've taken to going to Deep Homo and buying 20 or 30 feet of genuine rubber-covered 3 wire cord in various gauges and just automatically replacing the power cord on most tools.




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Posts: 15608 | Location: Downeast Maine | Registered: March 10, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Mensch
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Lead?


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Posts: 16137 | Location: Ivorydale | Registered: January 21, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Picture of Rinehart
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What what I understand it is partly the use of recycled automotive tires, as well as using supposedly less-harmful process ingredients.

This form of rubberized plastic utilizes benzene and other hydrocarbons such as ethylbenzene, xylene and toluene. Benzene is a known carcinogen. Benzene and other hydrocarbons can offgass from goods for years after manufacture.

Consumers can quite easily smell products made using recycled tire rubber, as they maintain a smell quite similar to worn tires.

Read more- Smelly plastic
 
Posts: 1512 | Location: PA | Registered: March 15, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Experienced Slacker
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Good question. I have an exercise station that smelled as Rinehart described for a long time. At first I covered the rubber parts with duct tape to contain it, but of course using it made that wear off in a few weeks. Seems like it doesn't stink like it used to, and my hope is that it isn't because I've gotten used to it.
 
Posts: 7531 | Registered: May 12, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinehart:
What what I understand it is partly the use of recycled automotive tires, as well as using supposedly less-harmful process ingredients.

This form of rubberized plastic utilizes benzene and other hydrocarbons such as ethylbenzene, xylene and toluene. Benzene is a known carcinogen. Benzene and other hydrocarbons can offgass from goods for years after manufacture.

Consumers can quite easily smell products made using recycled tire rubber, as they maintain a smell quite similar to worn tires.

Read more- Smelly plastic


This and who knows what other garbage is mixed into their recycled plastic and rubber they use. Chinese are known to use any crap they can get their hands on cheap, whether it's good for you or not, they don't care.
 
Posts: 21421 | Registered: June 12, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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In my radio control hobby most of what is available in airframes comes from China. I have never observed an objectionable odor from any of these. They have many plastic components on them and are also mostly molded from foam which is also a plastic.
 
Posts: 693 | Location: E. Central Missouri | Registered: January 05, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Whenever I walk into a Harbor Freight store, it always smells like rubber.
Not like a tire shop, more like junkyard used tires getting shredded.




 
Posts: 4170 | Location: Texas | Registered: April 16, 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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And their "rubber" is so freakin' STIFF.


its all the rhino horn and elephant tusks





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Posts: 55290 | Location: Henry County , Il | Registered: February 10, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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The odor is from the tears of the prisoners making the products for their overlords to sell to us so they can afford to build more prisons for more workers.


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Posts: 4650 | Location: The Free State of Georgia | Registered: August 01, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Several years ago I bought a new shower curtain liner, made in China. I had to open up the windows and throw it away as the odor was overpowering to the point of making me feel as choking. A quick internet search pointed to the cheap plastic (polyvinyl chloride) and a number of potential containments I had to dig out my college Organic Chemistry textbook for. I spent five dollars more and got one with no problems.
 
Posts: 3464 | Location: Fairfax Co. VA | Registered: August 03, 2015Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Just because you can,
doesn't mean you should
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How do you think they get rid of all that toxic crap we send over there for recycling?
Mix it into stuff they are sending back.


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Posts: 9929 | Location: NE GA | Registered: August 22, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by bendable:...
its all the rhino horn and elephant tusks


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Posts: 44594 | Location: ...... I am thrice divorced, and I live in a van DOWN BY THE RIVER!!! (in Arkansas) | Registered: December 20, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by PHPaul:
Does anybody know why Chinese rubber and plastic products reek like they do? I assume it's some component/chemical they use in the process.

Low cost items will result in low cost materials used. Companies and the factories they contract with to manufacture their goods, are always looking to lower their costs. Some are ok with using sub-optimal materials with possible side affects that help lower the bottom line.
 
Posts: 15149 | Location: Wine Country | Registered: September 20, 2000Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I bought Yokohama tires for my Motorhome good tires however as stated by other buyers they have an awful smell for quite awhile. I describe the smell like cat piss. I thought it might be chemical they use during vulcanizing.


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Posts: 4905 | Location: SWMO | Registered: October 20, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Nosce te ipsum
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And who can forget the Chinese drywall issues . . . ?

Chinese Drywall refers to defective or tainted drywall imported from China from 2001 to 2007 which emits sulfur gasses which usually (but not always) creates a noxious odor and corrodes copper and other metal surfaces, thereby damaging your air conditioner, electrical wiring, copper plumbing, appliances and electronics ...

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Posts: 8759 | Registered: March 24, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Not really from Vienna
Picture of arfmel
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Harbor Freight
Tractor Supply
Northern Tool

All smell like mothballs or some similar, probably carcinogenic, petrochemical product. I bought a dolly with some Chinese pneumatic tires that stunk so bad I had to leave it outdoors because I couldn’t stand it being in the garage.
 
Posts: 27245 | Location: SW of Hovey, Texas | Registered: January 30, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
goodheart
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The worst I ever experienced was a gun safe I bought at Home Depot. I could not get rid of the smell (our resident safe expert said it "smelled like China", so eventually returned the safe--yes, Home Depot took it back. Got a Liberty Safe instead.


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Posts: 18555 | Location: One hop from Paradise | Registered: July 27, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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If you have ever been to a Chinese Rubber factory you would understand. I have and you are coughing up black colored phlegm for days afterward.


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Posts: 543 | Location: SW Florida & SNJ | Registered: July 26, 2015Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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We just bought a rubber bathtub matt at Wally. After Mrs put in the tub and we each took a shower, I went into the bathroom and thought someone took a shit next to the toilet. Nasty

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mcrimm,



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Posts: 4289 | Location: Saddlebrooke, Arizona | Registered: December 24, 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by arfmel:
Harbor Freight
I can smell that place in my mind just from the mere mention of the associated odor in this thread...



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