MIL-HDBK-695 Rubber Products: Recommended Shelf LifeThis handbook provides guidance for establishing time periods for the expected life of elastomeric products during shelf storage. The use of the expected shelf storage lives listed herein is NOT MADE MANDATORY by this handbook. This handbook is for guidance only and cannot be cited as a requirement. The decision as to whether or not a product will have a limit placed upon the time that it may remain in storage is a function of the agency responsible for the products ultimate use.

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MIL-HDBK-695E

CONTENTS

Paragraph                                                                                                                                  Page

FOREWORD .................................................................................................................................. ii

1. SCOPE ........................................................................................................................................ 1

1.1 Scope......................................................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Applicability ............................................................................................................................. 1

1.2.1 Products included................................................................................................................... 1

1.2.2 Products excluded .................................................................................................................. 2

1.3 Application................................................................................................................................ 2

2. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS .................................................................................................. 3

2.1 General...................................................................................................................................... 3

2.2 Government documents ............................................................................................................ 3

2.3 Non-Government publications.................................................................................................. 3

3. DEFINITIONS............................................................................................................................ 3

3.1 Age resistance ........................................................................................................................... 3

3.2 Cure date ................................................................................................................................... 3

3.3 Shelf life.................................................................................................................................... 4

3.4 Service life ................................................................................................................................ 4

4. GENERAL GUIDANCE............................................................................................................ 4

4.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................... 4

4.2 Type of rubber........................................................................................................................... 4

4.3 External factors influencing shelf life....................................................................................... 4

4.3.1 Packaging............................................................................................................................... 4

4.3.2 Storage ................................................................................................................................... 4

4.3.2.1 Temperature ........................................................................................................................ 4

4.3.2.2 Humidity ............................................................................................................................. 5

4.3.2.3 Ozone .................................................................................................................................. 5

4.3.2.4 Light.................................................................................................................................... 5

4.3.2.5 Stock rotation...................................................................................................................... 5

4.4 Documents ................................................................................................................................ 5

4.4.1 Cancelled documents ............................................................................................................. 5

4.4.2 Supersession........................................................................................................................... 5

4.4.3 Superseding documents ......................................................................................................... 5

5. NOTES........................................................................................................................................ 6

5.1 Intended use .............................................................................................................................. 6

5.2 Subject term (key word) listing................................................................................................. 6

5.3 Changes from previous issue .................................................................................................... 6

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