When performing steering wheel maintenance, replacing an aftermarket steering wheel hub adapter (Boss Kit), or repairing the horn button cover, you will often find that the surface of the internal rubber or plastic gaskets is covered with a layer of "white powder." Sometimes, they may even shatter or crumble with just a light press of a finger. In the material science of automotive components, this is a very typical manifestation of Polymer Degradation.
This article will deeply analyze the underlying causes and potential impacts of this phenomenon from the perspectives of material characteristics and environmental factors.
