Open Steam Curing Method

This term is synonymous with vulcanisation but is generally applied to the factory methods of vulcanising mbber products, e.g., press curing, open steam curing, cold curing. 

Some of the technical properties of ebonite are appreciably affected by the method of cure. In open steam curing, the external pressure is limited to a few atmospheres of steam pressure. The direct... 

Open steam cure - A method of vulcanization in which the steam is in direct contact with the product being vulcanized at atmospheric pressure. 

Vulcanization may be by moulding in a press, hot-air or open-steam methods, although the open-steam cured rubbers are often softer than the others. Low-temperature vulcanization (140-160°C) gives vulcanizates with better physical strength than do higher temperatures (> 160°C). 

Open Steam Curing - Open steam curing is used in the production of hose, wire and cable, and other extruded articles such as tubing or channel stripping. With this method, the artiele may be in direct contact with the steam, wrapped with fabric tape, encased in an extruded covering of lead, or supported by soapstone in a shielded pan. Equipment m eonsist of a jacketed autoclave or a closed chamber in which the articles are plaeed and steam is introduced. 

An obsolete process for reheading pneumatic tyres. The vulcanisation of the new head rubber is not done in a mould but by the open steam method in an autoclave, and the deshed pattern is cut on the head after cure. 

No one curing process posesses all the virtues and those which may appear to be most desirable may be rejected on grounds of initial cost and maintenance of the equipment. For example even an autoclave curable rubber lined vessel can be cured in open steam at atmospheric pressure and this method can be adopted while the autoclave is down for repairs and maintenance. 

Steam cure (open) - A method of vulcanizing rubber parts by exposing them directly to steam. 

The method of vulcanising those rubber products which do not require the precision of shape given by a mould. The heat for curing is supplied by steam circulating openly in an autoclave, the products being supported on mandrels or embedded in chalk. See Moulding. 

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