RPA Testing of Rubber Processability and Dynamic Properties

This two-day course is designed to help rubber professionals such as rubber chemists, engineers, compounders, laboratory and production managers and associates better understand the various methods available to measure rubber processing, dynamic properties and the fundamental rheological principles on which these tests are based. Explore how specific changes in rubber compound formulations affect these measured processing properties as well as the cured dynamic properties. Learn the characterization of raw elastomers. The topics of Mooney viscosity (MV) and Mooney stress relaxation (MSR), the oscillating disk rheometer (ODR), and the moving die rheometer (MDR) are presented.

This course focuses extensively on the current use of the Rubber Process Analyzer (RPA) through nine different ASTM Standards to characterize raw rubber, predict downstream processability for mixed stocks, and measure curing characteristics and after-cure dynamic properties. The use of the capillary rheometer in measuring rubber compounding processability is also reviewed. You are encouraged to bring and discuss your unique processing problems.

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to select and perform rubber testing from a wide variety of various rubber processability test instruments that are commonly used under various ASTM and ISO standards (or be able to self-modify these methods) for the user’s advantage.

Instructor

John Dick

John Dick has more than 39 years of experience in the rubber industry. He was with BF Goodrich and later Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Co. as a section manager and development scientist in R&D until 1991, when he joined Monsanto’s Rubber ... read more

Benefits and Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate how to select specific rubber tests from a wide variety of options
• Estimate the best rubber test conditions for a better, more sensitive test
• Interpret test results more effectively in order to improve rubber processing quality and productivity