I have been experimenting buying soft baits through Ali Express. I have found some really great lures. One thing I have noticed is some of the  soft swimbaits seem a touch less soft then I would like, so I started boiling them for about 45 seconds. What I have found is that the baits become much softer and have a much better action after boiling them, even after they cool down. So my question is, what happens to the material after boiling them that makes them stay softer after cooling down? thanks

I originally posted this in the Tackle Forum:

 

Soft plastics are made of Plastisol, which is composed of PVC and other polymers mixed with a plasticizer (which makes the product flexible and pliable). Although they are initially heated and poured into molds. Plastisol’s melting point is 320°-350°F. Boiling water is 212°F. So while boiling soft plastics will not remelt them, it likely affects the pliability and flexibility much as annealing metals alters the physical and sometimes chemical properties of a material to increase its ductility and reduce its hardness. 

 

It would be interesting to see the difference between boiled soft plastics that are allowed to cool naturally and those that are immediately quenched in both warm and cold water. 

It simply annuals the plastisol.

Tom

1 hour ago, WRB said:

It simply annuals the plastisol.

Tom

huh?

 

26 minutes ago, waymont said:

huh?

 

Yes, heating plastics about 50% of the melt temperature and letting it cooling anneals the material to stress relieve it.

Boiling water is easy to control to acclimate the plastisol to the temperature needed.

Tom

2 minutes ago, WRB said:

Yes, heating plastics about 50% of the melt temperature and letting it cooling anneals the material to stress relieve it.

Boiling water is easy to control to acclimate the plastisol to the temperature needed.

Tom

Ah....I got it. I thought you were talking annuals (plants) for a minute. Just a typo.

Auto correction that I missed...