Reverse Engineering of Cured Rubber Compounds

Although direct analysis of rubber compounds yields simultaneously information about polymer and additives, a quantitative determination of the additives is difficult. This requires separation of these components from the polymer and fillers by means of extraction. Following the standard procedure at Akron Rubber (cfr Chp. 2.2 of ref. [3a]), Coz et al. [25] have examined four unknown cured rubber compounds (radial passenger tyre tread, radiator hose, oil pan seal and engine gasket). Tables 6.7 and 6.8 compare the reconstructed formulations and actual recipes for the tyre and radiator hose. 

In the radiator hose it was impossible to identify tetramethyl thiuram monosulfide (TMTM). This 

The reconstructed formulations were very similar to the actual recipes. The examples show that by the use of proper analytical techniques rubber formulations can be successfully reconstructed from cured compounds, giving an excellent tool to rubber mixers, fabricators and end-users of rubber parts. 

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