This book comprises a glossary of terms used in the rubber industry, a detailed description of the common rubber materials, a section on rubber additives, and an outline of the equipment types used in rubber processing. It provides a quick means of obtaining information about key subjects.

1 Overview of Rubber Processing p. 1 1.1 Introduction p. 1 1.2 Testing p. 2 1.2.1 Raw Materials Quality Assurance p. 2 1.2.2 Processability Testing of Mixed Compounds p. 2 1.2.3 End Product Testing p. 3 1.3 Conclusion p. 3 References p. 4 2 Raw Materials Acceptance and Specifications p. 5 2.1 Introduction p. 5 2.2 Raw Materials Specifications p. 5 2.2.1 Elastomers p. 6 2.2.2 Fillers p. 7 3 Mixing of Rubber Compounds p. 9 3.1 Introduction p. 9 3.2 Material Flow to the Mixer p. 10 3.2.1 Receipt and Storage of Raw Materials p. 11 3.2.2 Feeding, Weighing, and Charging Raw Materials p. 12 3.2.2.1 Weighing Major Ingredients p. 14 3.2.2.2 Small Component Weighing p. 14 3.3 The Mixing Process p. 15 3.3.1 Incorporation p. 16 3.3.2 Dispersion p. 17 3.3.3 Distribution p. 19 3.3.4 Plasticization p. 20 3.3.5 Natural Rubber Mastication p. 20 3.3.6 Flow Visualization and Modeling of the Mixing Process p. 20 3.3.6.1 Flow Visualization p. 21 3.3.6.2 Modeling p. 21 3.3.7 Flow Behavior on Mills p. 24 3.4 Internal Mixers p. 26 3.4.1 Developments in Internal Mixers p. 29 3.4.1.1 Farrel Mixers p. 29 3.4.1.2 Kobelco Stewart Bolling Mixers p. 30 3.4.1.3 Krupp-Midwest Werner und Pfleiderer Mixers p. 31 3.4.1.4. Pomini Mixers p. 31 3.4.2 Choosing a Mixer p. 32 3.4.3 Inspection and Preventative Maintenance of Mixers p. 32 3.4.4 Internal Mixer Operation p. 33 3.4.4.1 Mixing Procedures p. 33 3.4.4.2 Temperature Control in Internal Mixers p. 37 3.4.4.3 Rotor Speed p. 37 3.4.4.4 Ram Pressure p. 38 3.4.4.5 Batch Size p. 38 3.4.4.6 Dump Criteria p. 40 3.4.5 Control of the Mixing Process p. 41 3.4.6 Scale-Up p. 41 3.5 Take-Off Systems p. 43 3.5.1 Dump Mills p. 43 3.5.2 Packaging p. 44 3.5.3 Single Pass Mixing p. 45 3.6 Other Mixing Equipment p. 45 3.6.1 Mill Mixing p. 45 3.6.2 Continuous Mixing p. 47 3.7 Custom Compounding p. 47 3.8 Troubleshooting the Mixing Process p. 48 3.8.1 Inadequate Dispersion or Distribution p. 49 3.8.2 Scorchy Compound p. 49 3.8.3 Contamination p. 49 3.8.4 Poor Handling on Dump Mill p. 49 3.8.5 Batch-to-Batch Variation p. 49 3.9 Concluding Comments p. 50 References p. 50 4 Flow Behavior of Compounds p. 53 4.1 Introduction p. 53 4.2 Fundamentals of Rheology p. 53 4.3 Effect of Compounding Ingredients on Processing Behavior p. 58 4.3.1 Elastomers p. 58 4.3.2 Fillers p. 59 4.3.2.1 Carbon Blacks p. 59 4.3.3 Plasticizers and Processing Aids p. 60 4.3.3.1 Plasticizers p. 61 4.3.3.2 Processing Aids p. 62 4.3.4 Elasticity p. 63 4.3.5 Conclusion p. 64 References p. 64 5 Testing of Compounds After Mixing p. 65 5.1 Introduction p. 65 5.2 Processability Test Instruments p. 68 5.2.1 The Mooney Viscometer p. 68 5.2.1.1 Delta Mooney p. 69 5.2.1.2 TMS Rheometer p. 70 5.2.2 Capillary Rheometers p. 80 5.2.3 Oscillating Disk Curemeters p. 73 5.2.4 Rotorless Curemeters p. 75 5.2.5 Dynamic Mechanical Rheological Testers p. 75 5.2.6 Stress Relaxation Instruments p. 75 5.2.7 ODR Cure Times Correlation with MDR p. 77 5.3 Comparison of Alpha Technologies Processability Test Instruments p. 78 5.4 Conclusion p. 80 References p. 80 6 The Curing Process p. 83 6.1 Introduction p. 84 6.2 Scorch or Premature Vulcanization p. 84 References p. 85 7 Calendering of Rubber p. 87 7.1 Introduction p. 87 7.2 Equipment p. 87 7.3 Processes p. 88 7.3.1 Feeding p. 88 7.3.2 Sheeting p. 88 7.3.3 Frictioning p. 88 7.3.4 Coating p. 89 7.3.5 Roller Dies p. 89 7.3.6 Downstream Processes p. 90 7.4 Modeling the Calendering Process p. 90 7.5 Troubleshooting Problems in Calendering p. 91 7.5.1 Scorch p. 91 7.5.2 Blistering p. 91 7.5.3 Rough or Holed Sheet p. 91 7.5.4 Tack p. 91 7.5.5 Bloom p. 91 7.6 Conclusions p. 91 References p. 92 8 Extrusion of Rubber p. 93 8.1 Introduction p. 93 8.2 Feeding p. 93 8.2.1 Cold-Feed versus Hot-Feed Extruders p. 94 8.3 Mass Transfer, Conveying, or Pumping p. 96 8.3.1 Flow Mechanism p. 97 8.3.2 Extruder Designs p. 98 8.3.2.1 The Maillefer Screw p. 99 8.3.2.2 The Iddon Screw p. 100 8.3.2.3 The Transfermix p. 101 8.3.2.4 The EVK Screw p. 101 8.3.2.5 The Pin Barrel Extruder p. 101 8.3.2.6 The Cavity Transfer Mixer p. 102 8.3.2.7 Vented Extruders p. 104 8.3.2.8 Dump Extruders p. 104 8.3.2.9 Strainers p. 105 8.3.2.10 Extruder Barrels p. 105 8.4 Extruder Operation and Control p. 105 8.5 Shaping p. 108 8.5.1 Extruder Heads p. 108 8.5.1.1 Coextrusion p. 109 8.5.1.2 Crossheading p. 109 8.5.1.3 Shear Heads p. 109 8.5.2 Dies p. 111 8.5.2.1 Pressure Drop p. 111 8.5.2.2 Die Swell p. 111 8.6 Take-Off and Curing p. 112 8.6.1 Continuous Vulcanization Systems p. 113 8.6.1.1 Pressurized Steam Systems p. 113 8.6.1.2 Hot Air Curing Systems p. 113 8.6.1.3 Hot Air Fluidized Bed Systems p. 114 8.6.1.4 Liquid Salt Bath Systems p. 114 8.6.1.5 Microwave Systems p. 114 8.6.1.6 Shear Head Systems p. 115 8.6.1.7 Electron Beam Systems p. 115 8.6.1.8 Steel Belt Presses p. 116 8.6.1.9 Ultrasonic Vulcanization p. 116 8.7 Troubleshooting the Extrusion Process p. 116 8.7.1 Low Output Rate p. 116 8.7.2 Poor Dimensional Stability of Extrudate p. 117 8.7.3 Excessive Heat Buildup in Compound p. 117 8.7.4 Rough Surface on Extrudate p. 117 8.7.5 Contamination p. 117 8.7.6 Porosity in Extrudate p. 117 8.7.7 Strip Difficult to Feed p. 117 8.7.8 Surging Output p. 118 8.8 Concluding Comments p. 118 References p. 118 9 Molding of Rubber p. 119 9.1 Introduction p. 119 9.2 Compression and Transfer Molding p. 120 9.3 Injection Molding of Rubber p. 122 9.3.1 Injection Molding Equipment p. 125 9.3.1.1 Delivery Systems p. 125 9.3.1.2 Nozzles, Runners, and Gates p. 127 9.3.1.3 Molds p. 128 9.3.1.4 Automatic Ejection p. 129 9.3.1.5 Deflashing p. 129 9.3.2 The Injection Molding Process p. 130 9.3.2.1 Injection Temperature p. 130 9.3.2.2 Screw Speed p. 131 9.3.2.3 Back Pressure p. 131 9.3.2.4 Injection Pressure p. 131 9.3.2.5 Summary p. 131 9.3.3 Monitoring and Modeling the Injection Molding Process p. 131 9.3.4 Control of the Injection Molding Process p. 132 9.3.5 Compounds for Injection Molding p. 133 9.3.6 Problems in Injection Molding of Rubber p. 133 References p. 136 10 Finished Product Testing p. 137 10.1 Introduction p. 137 10.2 Test of Filler Distribution and Dispersion p. 138 10.2.1 Microscopy p. 138 10.2.2 Surface Roughness p. 138 10.3 Tests on Cured Specimens p. 138 10.3.1 Tensile Tests p. 139 10.3.2 Hardness p. 139 10.3.3 Compression Set p. 139 10.3.4 Solvent Resistance p. 140 10.3.5 Aging p. 140 10.3.6 Ozone Cracking p. 140 References p. 140 Index p. 143.

The Science and Technology of Rubber, Third Edition provides a broad survey of elastomers with special emphasis on materials with a rubber-like elasticity. As in the 2nd edition, the emphasis remains on a unified treatment of the material; exploring topics from the chemical aspects such as elastomer synthesis and curing, through recent theoretical developments and characterization of equilibrium and dynamic properties, to the final applications of rubber, including tire engineering and manufacturing. Many advances have been made in polymer and elastomers research over the past ten years since the 2nd edition was published. Updated material stresses the continuous relationship between the ongoing research in synthesis, physics, structure and mechanics of rubber technology and industrial applications. Special attention is paid to recent advances in rubber-like elasticity theory and new processing techniques for elastomers. This new edition is comprised of 20% new material, including a new chapter on environmental issues and tire recycling.

Blends of natural rubber with speciality synthetic rubbers, such as nitrile rubber and ethylene propylene rubbers, have, in the past, failed to combine the best properties of polymers, resulting in a poor return in terms of added value from the blending process. The idea of blending synthetic rubbers with natural rubbe is certainly not a new one, but it is only now that this can be shown to be possible with consistently positive resluts, but eh use of novel techniques which this book describes, giving valuable information on the technology required and the results which can be achieved. Blends of Natural Rubber is an invaluable source of information for all those working in the area of rubber technology and polymer blend technology.

Ten chapters cover: - General Test Methods- Testing Natural Rubber- Testing Synthetic Rubber- Testing Carbon Black- And More!

The combination of its unique morphology, physical properties, cost effectiveness and environmental friendliness make natural rubber an appealing constituent for many materials and applications. Natural Rubber Materials covers the synthesis, characterization and applications of natural rubber based blends, interpenetrating polymer networks, composites and nanocomposites. With contributions from established international experts in the field, volume 1 covers different types of natural rubber-based blends and IPNs, whilst volume 2 focuses on natural rubber-based composites and nanocomposites. This is the first book to consolidate the current state of the art information on natural rubber based materials providing a "one stop" reference resource for professionals, researchers, industrial practitioners, graduate students, and senior undergraduates in the fields of polymer science and engineering, materials science, surface science, bioengineering and chemical engineering.