Investigation on strategies for optimizing process definition in rubber processing: A study on mechanical and chemical properties of vulcanizates as basis for the development of a new calculation model for quality prediction

Martin Traintinger, Roman C. Kerschbaumer, Michaela Hornbachner, Bernhard Lechner, Thomas Lucyshyn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Rubber compounds may exhibit significant batch variations due to multiple different ingredients mixed in one compound. Hence, defining the manufacturing process for constant part quality can be challenging. Common strategies in considering batch variations in rubber processing include the determination of reaction kinetics, and the definition of process parameters according to normalized vulcanization isotherms. Thereby, maintenance of the degree of cure is targeted. With this path, information on the mechanical properties of vulcanizates is lost, despite its visibility from the kinetic data and part quality assurance is missed. This contribution points out the differences obtained for parts produced to the same degree of cure at various temperatures and intends to emphasize new strategies in process definitions. Therefore, compression molded parts were produced from styrene-butadien rubber, which was then characterized with mechanical and chemical methods. Each of the methods revealed a significant difference in part behavior, which were manufactured to the same degrees of cure but at different temperatures. It was concluded that a temperature-dependent reaction rate should be considered when quality maintenance is targeted in the production. Only then will it be possible to predict the properties adequately, with simultaneous effect of enhancing sustainability policies in rubber processing.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere54901
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of applied polymer science
Volume141.2024
Issue number6
Early online date20 Nov 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Feb 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Applied Polymer Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

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