More recent developments in rheology and cure determination

8 More recent developments in rheology and cure determination 

RAPRA also supply a vibrating needle curemeter (VNC) for use with liquid resin systems such as unsaturated polyester, epoxy and polyurethane systems [7]. 

The TMS rheometer from Negretti is effectively a modification of the Mooney viscometer principle for use with elastomeric materials. The elastomer is introduced into a cavity containing a shearing disc by injection, and measurements of torque under fixed or variable conditions of temperature and rotor speed can be made. Effective simulation of a variety of process conditions can be made. The instrument has found particular use in the investigation of rubber-to-metal adhesion behaviour, a problem of importance to mould fouling and extrusion processing. 

Another technique currently used to monitor the progress in cure of liquid or dough-based polymer compounds (especially polyester and epoxy systems) is dielectric measurement. This has been used successfully for some years to 

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