Rubber Compounding and Processing Technology

In order to describe rubber compounds from the point of view of their processing capabihty different methods are used [29]. In this respect full characterization is achieved by analyzing the flow curves of rubbers and rubber compounds. The flow curves can be obtained by different viscometers. In the rubber industry (over 100 years) a technological index has been widely used - the Mooney viscosity. It serves for a comparison and control. It is measured relatively quickly with the respective viscometer and in accordance with the International standard ISO 289-1 2002. The obtained Mooney viscosity gives information just for one point of the flow curve of the rubber or rubber compound and this is the reason that no full rheological characteristics of the elastomeric material are obtained [30]. In order to describe the processing capability of rubber compounds by means of Brabender Plasticorder, the measurements are usually performed at a relatively high... 

Chanda, M. and S. K. Roy. 2007. Plastics Technology Handbook, 4th ed. Plastic Engineering, vol. 72, Boca Raton CRC Press. Covers processes and property data of industrial polymers. Appendices cover trade names and abbreviations for industrial polymers formulations commercial polymer blends and alloys properties of polymers, rubber compounds, and textile fibers. Available online on CRCnetBASE. 

Dallas, Tex., 4th-6th April 2000, paper 13 MODELLING OF THE MIXING PROCESS AND ONLINE PREDICTION OF THE RUBBER COMPOUND AND MOULDED PART PROPERTIES WITH INTELLIGENT PROCESS ANALYSIS TECHNOLOGIES Haberstroh E Ryzko P... 

Hard products may also be made by vulcanising rubber (natural or synthetic) using only about two parts of sulphur per 100 parts of rubber. In these cases either the so-called high-styrene resins or phenolie rubber compounding resins are ineorporated into the formulation. These compounds are processed using the methods of rubber technology but, like those of ebonite, the produets are more akin to plastics than to rubbers. Examples of the usage of these materials are to be found in battery boxes, shoe heels and ear washer brushes. 

C.H. Hepburn, Rubber Compounding Ingredients - Need, Theory and Innovation, Part II. Processing, Bonding, Fire Retardants, Rapra Review Report Nr. 97, Rapra Technology Ltd, Shawbury (1997). 

It was not until 1955 that a process was developed for the synthesis- of an elastomer closely resembling natural rubber and the technological methods for the use of this elastomer in the compound were disclosed. This... 

Technology for preparing nanocomposites directly via compounding has been investigated by Vaia, Ishii, and Giannelis. Industrial R D efforts have focused on process technology (e.g., melt or monomer exfoliation processes), as there are a number of polymers (e.g., polyolefins) that do not lend themselves to a monomer process. Nanocomposites with a variety of polymers, including polyacrylates or methacrylates, polystyrene, styrene-butadiene rubber, epoxy, polyester, and polyurethane, are amenable to the monomer process. The enhancement of mechanical properties, gas permeability resistance, and heat endurance are the primary objectives for the application of PCN, and their success will establish PCNs as a major commercial product. 

Various applications of the injection molding system have been developed outside the scope of the cure of rubbers, and a few examples are given, with the substitution of thermoset rubbers by thermoplastic elastomers a range of thermoplastic elastomer compounds were introduced and processed using reaction compounding technology. They are called reaction modified thermoplastic elastomers or ReMoTE [5]. 

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