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The best way to prolong the life of your squeaks, is proper care.
Keeping them clean, free of dust, skin oils, bodily fluids and other environmental contaminates.
Always clean before storage, that way contaminates are not trapped against the vinyl where it can cause degradation.
What is Plasticizer; Plasticizers are compounds that increase the plasticity or decrease the viscosity of a material. The most common plasticizer used in PVC is phthalates. When added to PVC, they space out the polymer chains, making the material more flexible.
Non Phthalate Plasticizers; Non-phthalate soft flexible PVC plasticizers are additives that increase flexibility and workability in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) without using ortho-phthalates
Application of Plasticizers; The production of soft PVC compounds involves mixing PVC resin with the desired amount of plasticizer and other additives like stabilizers and fillers. This mixture is then heated and rolled into a vinyl cloth.
PVC plasticizers are heat-activated and that heat is required for them to penetrate and soften the polymer during "manufacturing" (gelation at 184°C / 363°F).
When plasticizers (such as phthalates or citrates) are applied to the surface, they can be absorbed into the PVC matrix, reducing intermolecular forces and increasing flexibility.
But this comes with certain risks and downfalls
The plasticizer being added must match the exact plasticizer and additive compound precisely.
Because the plasticizer is not chemically bonded to the polymer chain, it will eventually migrate out again, causing the PVC to become brittle once more and each time it is applied the duration will shorten, also causing more permeant damage to the base material.
If the wrong plasticizer is used, it cause rapid degradation or in some cases, it may cause the surface of the PVC to become sticky or oily,.you must use the exact same plasticizer each time as changes also alter the stabilizer compounds.
Applying random plasticizers to aged flexible PVC presents significant health and safety hazards and can cause severe material degradation. Incompatible plasticizers are not chemically bound to the polymer matrix, meaning they can easily leach out, contaminate the environment, and compromise the physical integrity of the material.
Many plasticizers, particularly certain phthalates like DEHP and DiNP which are common in older PVC products, are known to be toxic. Applying random plasticizers increases the risk of exposure to potentially harmful chemicals with unknown health effects.
Aged PVC is already susceptible to degradation from environmental factors like UV radiation and heat, which cause existing plasticizers to leach out and the material to become brittle. Applying an incompatible plasticizer exacerbates these issues.
Plasticizers
Applying the wrong or incompatible plasticizer to aged, flexible PVC (polyvinyl chloride) typically accelerates its degradation, resulting in increased brittleness, surface stickiness (blooming), and potentially rapid, catastrophic failure. Because aged, PVC has already undergone chain scission and dehydrochlorination (losing its original stabilizer and plasticizer), it becomes highly porous and brittle.
Instead of softening the material, an incompatible plasticizer may simply sit on the surface or fail to integrate into the polymer matrix. If it acts as a solvent rather than a plasticizer, it can cause the already brittle PVC to fail.
An incompatible or low-molecular-weight plasticizer will quickly migrate to the surface, causing "blooming" or "leaching". The surface will become sticky, oily, and gummy, attracting dirt and further accelerating degradation.
If the object is in contact with other materials (e.g., adhesive on another vinyl object), the wrong plasticizer will likely migrate quickly into that material, causing the adhesive to turn tacky, yellow, and lose its bonding capability.
Skin Contact; your skin oils cause plasticizer to migrate to the surface, this allows for dirt and contaminates to access the material..
Plasma; the acids, blood and plasma in your saliva and other bodily fluids cause plasticizer migration.
Abrupt Temperature Changes; Changes like moving your squeak from a warm room of 70 deg F (21.111C) to an outside temp difference of 20 to 30 degrees hotter or colder, this will cause the plasticizer to migrate toward the seams or a fold. Extreme temperature changes can cause permanent plasticizer damage from the plasticizer leaching to the surface in extreme heat or cold conditions.
UV Rays from direct sunlight; Pool squeaks are made for direct sunlight and can withstand the UV penetration for longer periods.
Customs Squeaks, are not UV stable and will not stand up to the UV rays for long periods, the plasticizer (especially Phthalates) will leach to the surface, both internal and external. If the internal Ambient temp is greater than the external surface temperature, the plasticizer will leach to the inside.
Plant Tar; Plant tar come from the burning of plants, tobacco, marijuana etc. The tar will settle on the vinyl surface and cause the plasticizer to migrate toward it, thus causing the plasticizer to adhere to the tar. Nicotine also has the same effect, it too settles on the surface and absorbs the plasticizer.
Chlorine; Chlorine is used in the making of PVC and PVC is mostly resistant to the effects of chlorine, However, prolonged exposure and higher than normal amounts of chlorine can degrade pvc, it can cause oxidation which leaves the plasticizer vulnerable. Chlorine acts as an organic solvent/oxidizer that extracts the plasticizer from the PVC matrix, causing the material to lose flexibility.
Adhesives; Using the wrong adhesive causes plasticizer to migrate toward the repair, over time the plasticizer will migrate into the adhesive causing it to yellow and even fail.
Solvents; Solvents like MEK, Acetone, Isopropyl Alcohol, toluene, Butyl acetate, and Ethyl acetate. * These solvents, often used in adhesives, cleaners, and paints, leach the plasticizers out of the PVC, causing it to become brittle, or they dissolve the material entirely.
Soaps & Cleaners; Using the wrong soap will cause plasticizer to rise to the surface, once there as part of the rinsing process, you will wash the plasticizer down the drain. Many people argue that their squeak feels softer after a bath with these soaps, and yes it will, you've pulled the plasticizer to the surface and out of the base material. Some cleaners especially those for Marine purposes are to harsh for vinyl squeaks, those cleaners are designed for isinglass and inflatable boats.
Inflation / Deflation; Rapid inflation and or deflation can cause a squeak to leach plasticizer.
Vacuum Deflation; A lot of companies and individuals like to suck the air out of squeaks for shipping or storage, Our squeaks are designed to take very low pressures, but not vacuum, they are not vacuum vessels and doing this causes the plasticizer to leach to the inside of the squeak. So our squeaks are being damaged even before we get them.
Storage; Tightly folding squeaks; Folding them in the same way repeatedly; Storing in tightly closed bins with no ventilation; Storing squeaks tightly together in a bin, these will all cause plasticizer loss and paint transfer. paint transfer is usually caused when plasticizer leaches from one squeak to another softening the paint.
Unlike Materials; Using material from a pool squeak to repair a custom can cause the plasticizer from the base material to migrate in to the other material. Same thing happens when two squeaks from a different type of material are stored together. Even having two inflated on top of one another will cause it if enough heat builds up between them.
*** Alcohol based paints and dyes; alcohol-based paints, dyes, can significantly damage soft, flexible PVC. The solvent (alcohol) acts on the plasticizers within the flexible PVC, leading to degradation, which often manifests as a sticky mess.
What causes Plasticizer Damage & leachingg;
This is 1 gallon of RAW Non Phthalate Medium Shore A Soft Flexible PVC. The PVC pellets are suspended in Plasticizer Compound.
This is enough PVC to make a roll
.4mm thick x 1m wide x 30.5m Long
Materials
Phthalate, Non phthalate, Polyolefin, and TPU
Phthalate mixes were banned in food products, Medical products, and in children's Toys, and a few others. But not all squeaks. Many Customs still have phthalate plasticizers.
Non Phthalate, well some like it and some don't, it's a matter of preference.
Polyolefin; (Pvc is pretty stretchy by itself, but in recent years people have mentioned that they want something a little more stretchy, so the manufactures answered with a compound containing polyolefin, polyolefin (polyurethane) is added to the pvc mix prior to the plasticizer mix, this gives the pvc base material a higher gloss and is more pliable. The higher the poly content, the more stretchy the material gets, so for example; a Pvc base squeak with a poly/pvc mix of 60% poly to 40% Base pvc, this adds approx. 1/2" of total stretch to the material (this depends on plasticizers and etc. too) So the new materials that are so crazy stretchy and are environmentally friendly are 90+% poly. This comes with issues of its own, for every 10% poly added, it reduces average engineered longevity by 5%, it has a good cold tolerance, but a bad high temperature tolerance, It also reacts differently to solvents.
TPU Thermoplastic Polyurethane; High Grade TPU has a good resistance to temperature, abrasion, penetration, wear, and is non toxic. TPU also comes with some negative aspects, such as Cost, High grade TPU costs 3 to 4 times more than normal pvc and has a shorter life span, environmental degradation, TPU also has a low tolerance for UV radiation.
The key here is High Grade TPU... If the company you're dealing with has a history of short cuts. (Be careful) Same goes with PVC...
Some of the new squeaks that have been bred with in the last few years are bred from a high polyolefin content PVC, and to make it even worse, the colorant used is an alcohol based paint or dye.
So to break this down, the high poly content PVC has a much shorter engineered longevity and has a lower tensile strength. It is very stretchy, but the down fall is that once the material reaches it's maximum stretch threshold, it will fail.
And since it's high in poly content, the Plasticizer is more vulnerable as there's not as much of it in the compound.
Alcohol-based paints and dyes can react with chlorinated water. The alcohol component acts as an organic solvent that, when mixed with chlorinated water, can lead to chemical reactions, discoloration, or degradation of the paint or dye, and since Alcohol degrades PVC, the underlying surface already has plasticizer damage leading to premature degradation.
It is generally not possible or effective to use a non-phthalate plasticizer on a finished, phthalate-based flexible PVC product post-production to replace or significantly alter its composition.
Plasticizers like DOP/DEHP (phthalates) are blended into PVC at high temperatures 170C - 180C during manufacturing to create a uniform, permanent matrix. Topical application (painting or dipping) on a cold, solid product does not cause the new plasticizer to replace the old one.
Applying a new plasticizer—even a non-phthalate one—to a finished product usually results in incompatibility. The new plasticizer will typically stay on the surface or create a greasy/oily layer that eventually migrates out, leading to white blooms, surface degradation, and excessive stickiness.
The existing phthalates are already inclined to migrate over time. Adding more plasticizers typically accelerates this process rather than fixing it.
Adding Plasticizers post production
Adding non phthalate plasticizer to phthalate pvc Material.
There is no perfect soap, all soaps contain something that's not good for plasticizers, but there are some that are better than others.
So look for soaps that are more gentle and have less surfactants, also stay away from Lye based soaps.
How to Clean Safely
For safe cleaning, use warm water and a mild non detergent soap
Dilute: Mix a few drops of soap in warm water, if using a spray bottle, dilute at a ratio of at least 3:1. {3 parts water to 1 part soap}
Gently Wash: Wipe the PVC surface gently using a soft microfiber cloth.
Rinse thoroughly: Always follow up by rinsing with clean fresh water, Keep in mind, most municipal water supplies contain high amounts of chlorine.
Air Dry: Allow the squeak to dry in a well-ventilated area.
While pvc is made with chlorine, plasticizers can be washed from the base material using chlorine (bleach) as a washing agent.
Some damages caused by chlorine (Bleach)
Oxidation: High concentrations of chlorine (such as in municipal tap water, swimming pools, or bleach) aggressively oxidize the organic compounds that make up plasticizers.
Leaching: Once these bonds are degraded, the plasticizer molecules lose their ability to properly space out the rigid PVC polymer chains. Consequently, the plasticizer escapes the material and migrates into the surrounding fluid or air.
Embrittlement: The loss of the plasticizer causes the PVC chains to pack tightly together once again. This causes the material to lose its flexibility, leading to hardening, shrinkage, and micro-cracking.
The higher the chlorine concentration and water temperature, the faster the plasticizer will degrade, such as in swimming pools in the summer time.
When washing flexible PVC, avoid harsh chemicals and strong degreasers, as they strip the material's plasticizers and cause it to become stiff, brittle, and prone to cracking. Always steer clear of the following:
Solvents & Thinners: Acetone, nail polish remover, gasoline, mineral spirits, and paint thinner.
Strong Alcohols: Pure ethanol, isopropanol (rubbing alcohol over 70% used repeatedly), and methanol can dry out the material.
Harsh Cleaners: Bleach, ammonia, and concentrated window cleaners.
Abrasives: Scouring powders, magic erasers, and stiff brushes.
Surfactants: Surfactants break down oils and lift them from the surface, thus causing plasticizer to leach from the material.
Soaps to stay away from are those that contain high amounts of surfactant, like detergents.
Surfactants are chemicals that lift and break down oils.
Why Surfactants Pull Plasticizers
Because most plasticizers are small, non-polar molecules that sit between polymer chains, they are not chemically bound to the plastic. Surfactants can infiltrate the amorphous regions of the polymer, lower the surface tension, and trap the plasticizer inside their molecular structures—a process utilized in both surfactant-mediated chemical extractions and environmental degradation processes.
Surfactants with high lipophilic (oil-loving) properties, especially non-ionic or specific ionic types, excel at extracting or solubilizing plasticizers from plastics. By breaking surface tension and penetrating polymer matrices, these surfactants dissolve and pull out additives like phthalates and adipates.
The most effective surfactants for extracting plasticizers include:
Non-ionic Surfactants: Materials like Triton X-114, Tween-20, Decyl Glucoside, CoCo Glucoside, Lauramine Oxide, Caprylyl/capryl Glucoside (polysorbate 20), and Tween-80 (polysorbate 80). Because they lack a charge but are highly amphiphilic, they are remarkably efficient at solubilizing oily plasticizer molecules into water.
Anionic Surfactants: Detergent-type surfactants such as Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS).
Cationic Surfactants: Quaternary ammonium compounds like Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB).
Plasticizer Extraction: Decyl Glucoside, Coco Glucoside, Lauramine Oxide, and Caprylyl/capryl Glucoside are polar and contain lipophilic (fat-loving) chains, they have a high affinity to dissolve or attract PVC plasticizers. Over time, these surfactants draw the plasticizer out to the surface and wash or rub away, leaving the flexible PVC stiff and prone to cracking.
Material Embrittlement: As the plasticizer is leached, the distance and mobility between the PVC polymer chains are reduced. The loss of volume results in decreased elongation at break and a noticeable reduction in flexibility.
Surface Degradation & "Tackiness": As the plasticizer blends with the surfactant and moves to the surface, it can cause the PVC to feel sticky or oily. When the substance evaporates or is rinsed off, the surface may become dull, crazed, or rough.
Chemical Breakdown (Dehydrochlorination): Exposure to amine-based or alkaline surfactants (like Lauramine Oxide) can accelerate the thermal degradation of PVC by stripping away chlorine and causing the material to rapidly discolor (turning yellow or brown).
Phenoxyethanol acts as a solvent and aggressive extractant on flexible PVC. When applied to aged, contaminated PVC, it dissolves and leaches existing plasticizers (like phthalates). This extracts the softening agents, causing the PVC to permanently stiffen, embrittle, shrink, and crack as it off-gasses and degrades.
Solvent Action: Phenoxyethanol is an organic solvent. Because the polymer chains are held apart by plasticizers, the solvent molecules can easily penetrate the free volume of the PVC matrix.
Plasticizer Extraction: It acts as a competing solvent for legacy plasticizers (e.g., DEHP). It dissolves the plasticizer and leaches it out of the polymer structure, often replacing it.
Contaminant Displacement: If the PVC is contaminated (e.g., with bio-burden or existing oils), phenoxyethanol will solvate and mobilize these contaminants, causing them to spread or leach alongside the plasticizer.
Decyl Glucoside & Coco Glucoside: These non-ionic surfactants consist of sugar molecules (glucose) attached to natural fatty alcohols. They will readily emulsify and wash away the "bloomed" (tacky) plasticizer residue from the plastic's surface. By removing this surface layer, they disrupt the chemical equilibrium of the material, drawing even more plasticizer out of the PVC core.
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside: This is a shorter-chain alkyl polyglucoside that is highly effective as a solubilizer. Because of its shorter molecular chain, it has high penetrating power and can act as a mild solvent for organic additives. It is highly aggressive at dissolving and lifting aged plasticizers off the PVC surface, leading to rapid hardening of the material.
Lauramine Oxide: This amphoteric surfactant has excellent grease-cutting and degreasing properties. It will vigorously break down and lift oily migrated plasticizers. If the environmental conditions are basic (high pH), it can act as a phase-transfer catalyst, potentially allowing hydroxide ions to chemically degrade the PVC through a dehydrochlorination reaction.
Practical Implications:
If you use these surfactants to clean "sticky" aged toys, cables, or vinyl, be aware that you are permanently removing the agents that keep the plastic flexible. While the items may feel clean initially, the loss of plasticizer will cause the flexible PVC to become stiff and structurally compromised.
Sodium benzoate has no plasticizing properties and is generally insoluble in PVC plasticizers. When introduced to aged, contaminated flexible PVC, it acts as an inactive, solid filler. It provides no structural rejuvenation, cannot extract embedded contaminants, and can cause surface blooming, whitening, and embrittlement as the particles push plasticizer chains apart.
Key Effects on the Polymer Matrix
No Rejuvenation: Aged flexible PVC suffers from the leaching or evaporation of its original plasticizers (e.g., phthalates). Because sodium benzoate is a rigid salt, it cannot penetrate the polymer matrix or replace lost plasticizer volume to restore flexibility.
Increased Brittleness: Introducing a solid particulate into a depleted matrix accelerates antiplasticization. It restricts the mobility of the polymer chains, ultimately making the PVC stiffer and more prone to cracking under stress.
Phase Separation (Blooming): Sodium benzoate does not blend with standard plasticizers like adipates or benzoates. If residual moisture or liquid contaminants are present, the sodium benzoate may agglomerate and migrate to the surface. This results in a white, powdery, or sticky "bloom" on the material's surface.
Soaps & Surfactants
Protectants
non Aerosol Water Based Silicone Protectants
Such as 303 contain Silicone
303 Aerospace Protectant is a water-based emulsion. Its primary ingredients are deionized water and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a specialized silicone used to create a non-greasy, dust-repellent protective layer. It also contains ethoxylated surfactants, polyethylene glycol, and trace preservatives.
We use
Superior products on our squeaks which have the same ingredients as 303 except polyethylene glycol.
Silicone protectants do not inherently trigger plasticizer leaching. In fact, they act as sacrificial barriers that prevent plastics from drying out. However, petroleum-based solvents in lower-quality aerosol silicone sprays can dissolve or extract the chemical plasticizers, which then migrate to the surface in as little as days to months depending on environmental heat and exposure
The Mechanics of Migration
The Culprit: The actual cause of the leaching is usually the cheap carrier solvents (such as kerosene or mineral spirits) used to aerosolize the silicone. These chemicals dissolve the plasticizer resins.
The "Drying" Effect: When the solvent evaporates, it pulls the plasticizer with it, causing the material to lose its flexibility and become brittle over time.
Silicone's Role: Pure silicone sits on top of the plastic and lubricates it, shielding the plastic from UV rays and moisture loss.
What Speeds Up the Process?
Heat: Elevated temperatures (such as a car dashboard baking in the Florida sun) accelerate the diffusion rate of plasticizers. Under extreme heat, migration can be visibly noticed in a few weeks.
Product Quality: High-quality protectants rely on water-based or pure medical-grade silicone formulas rather than harsh petroleum distillates. They do not extract plasticizers, and the protective film can last on the surface for up to 15 years in ideal conditions.
still under construction
Health Concerns with some surfactants, cleaners, and protectants;
Lauramine Oxide
Health Profile: This is a tertiary amine oxide used as a foam stabilizer, thickener, and cleansing agent. Regulatory groups like the EPA (under the Safer Choice program) and the CIR approve its use in both personal care and household items.
Risks: Like the glucosides, it can cause skin and severe eye irritation if not formulated or diluted properly.
Nitrosamine Concern: Lauramine oxide can be susceptible to nitrosation—a chemical process that can form nitrosamines (compounds linked to cancer).
Boric acid poses significant health risks if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through skin. While generally safe for specific external uses (like vaginal suppositories or pest control) when used strictly as directed, swallowing it can cause poisoning, kidney damage, and reproductive issues.
Key Health Risks
Ingestion: Highly toxic if swallowed. It causes severe gastrointestinal distress, vomiting (sometimes blue-green in color), and diarrhea. Extreme ingestion can lead to "boiled lobster" rashes, kidney failure, and neurological issues like seizures or coma.
Skin & Eyes: Can be severely irritating to the eyes. Prolonged contact with broken skin allows it to absorb into the bloodstream, which has proven fatal in severe cases.
Inhalation: Breathing in boric acid dust can irritate your mouth, nose, and throat, potentially causing coughing, sore throats, or nosebleeds.
Reproductive Toxicity: Chronic, high-dose exposure is associated with reproductive and developmental toxicity, notably impacting fertility in animal studies
Sodium borate (borax) is a substance that poses significant health risks if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed. Health organizations, such as the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), note that the threshold for toxicity is relatively low, particularly for vulnerable populations like infants and children.
Health Risks and Symptoms
Acute Ingestion: Consuming or getting in your mouth can lead to serious medical emergencies. Symptoms often begin with severe gastrointestinal distress, including vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In severe cases, it can lead to organ failure or death.
Airborne Exposure: Inhaling borax dust can cause immediate irritation to the respiratory tract, affecting the nose, throat, and lungs.
Skin Absorption: While healthy skin provides a barrier, applying sodium borate to broken, scraped, or burned skin allows the chemical to enter the bloodstream more readily, potentially leading to systemic poisoning.
Sodium benzoate is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA when consumed in small amounts. However, it may pose health risks for sensitive individuals, and high chronic exposure has been linked to pseudo-allergic reactions, inflammation, and cellular damage.
Primary Health Concerns
Pseudo-allergic Reactions: Can trigger hives, rashes, or exacerbate symptoms in people with asthma or aspirin sensitivities.
Benzene Formation: When combined with ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) or citric acid in beverages, sodium benzoate can form benzene, a known human carcinogen. This reaction is accelerated by heat and light.
Health Concerns
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Site Disclaimer;
They are not for human consumption and can pose choking or poisoning hazards to children and pets.
Flexible plastics often contain phthalates, dioxin, and heavy metals like lead. These can leach into the environment, potentially harm all that come in to contact with it.
Some flexible plastics can melt or cause a "gooey mess" if mixed with incorrect substances such as but not limited to; Plasticizers, Degreasers, Solvents, Adhesives, and High heat.
Products should be filled with air that contains 21% oxygen