Programme

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Types of polymers, thermoplastics, thermosets, rubbers/elastomers, rubbers versus plastics, modulus versus temperature and time, glass transition, rubber elasticity, reinforced and non-reinforced rubbers.

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Carbon black: sorts, properties and effect on rubber.

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Non-black fillers: types, properties and effects on rubber, influence on the polymer networking processes.

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Properties of general purpose rubbers (NR, SBR, BR, IIR).

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Rubbers for car tyres.

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Oil resistant and heat resistant rubbers (NBR, CR, ACM, CO, ECO, FKM, Q, FVQ).

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TPE's made from block copolymers, structure and properties.

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TPE's made from blends, particularly on the basis of EPDM and PP.

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Introduction to the mechanics of vulcanisation, sulphur, peroxides, types of crosslinks, crosslinking reactions, cross link density, additives, zinc oxide, vulcametry.

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Comparison of sulphur and peroxide vulcanisation, difference in rubber properties, choice of system.

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Basic principles, bonding to plastics and steel cord.

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Appearance of raw materials, mixing rate and mixing quality, distributive and dispersive mixing, degree of dispersion, mastication, mixer types including mills and internal mixers, the mixing process in the internal mixer, energy balance, organisation of a mixing shop.

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Material properties of vulcanised rubbers, standards, measurement methods.

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Rubber products, case studies, examples.

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The production process as a flow problem, drag flow , pressure flow, extrusion for rubber processing, extrusion lines, extruder characteristics, energy balance, calenders, the calendering process, control of the thickness of the calender coating, calender coating lines.

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car profiles, radiator hoses, roofing foil, etc.

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Various vulcanisation techniques, injection principles, dosage and injection, cold channel technology, de-gassing of cavities, mould-fouling.

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Possibilities for re-work and recycling of rubber products, in particular tyres.

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Developments in the market.