# Chloroform & rubber - bad mix?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chloroform-rubber-bad-mix/114799
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 19, 2002, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chloroform-rubber-bad-mix/114799 "2002-06-19T03:54:05Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Falchoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchoon)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2002, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chloroform-rubber-bad-mix/114799/1 "2002-06-19T03:54:05Z")
On CSI the other night this guy put some chloroform in a bus tyre causing the tyre to slowly perish and later have a blowout where the bus rolled down the embankment and kill everybody. Would this happen in real life or is it just something that was made up for TV? I don’t want to do it, just curious that’s all.🙂
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### Author:  [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2002, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chloroform-rubber-bad-mix/114799/2 "2002-06-19T04:29:20Z")
Chloroform is a solvent for rubber.
[http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/healthguidelines/chloroform/recognition.html](http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/healthguidelines/chloroform/recognition.html)
> [@](#):
>
> **Used as an extractant solvent in manufacture of rubber,** essential oils, sterols and alkaloids, guttapercha, resins, and in the recovery of fat from waste products
>
> \< snip \>
>
> Do not use rubber or plastic hose or pipe to transfer chloroform.
According to OSHA, the “breakthrough time” for rubber is “less than 1 hour”, therefore it’s not recommended that you try to use rubber protective gear when working with chloroform.
So if you put chloroform in a rubber tire, it slowly dissolves the rubber.
Disclaimer: Do not try this at home.
Duh. :rolleyes:
😃