An intensive 5-day seminar for engineers in the rubber industry, suppliers and users.
In short
For whom
- young chemists and mechanical engineers
- higher technical education graduates with work experience in the rubber industry
- designers/constructors in companies that utilize rubber components or parts
Which topics and problems will be dealt with?
- Production problems are resolved all too often by trial and error. Is a better knowledge or understanding of the rubbers and available processes of help?
- Every user employs own specifications. How can we best translate these into useful material specifications?
- Mixing is crucial for the production of good rubber compounds. Is one mixing technique better than another?
- Which method of vulcanization is most suitable for our product? Or should we employ thermoplastic rubber?
- How can environmental issues be prevented in the rubber industry?
Course structure
Rubber technology is an intensive seminar given by experts from the University of Twente and from the industry. An extended tour of the laboratories of the Elastomer Technology and Engineering chair at the faculty of Engineering Technology is included. Case studies are used to discuss the application in the company environment. There are plenty of opportunities provided for discussion of theoretical and practical aspects with the lecturers. Also, the participants can obtain advice from the University of Twente after the seminar.
Speakers
All speakers are experts with very long experience in their fields, and they gained their expertise either in industry or academia.
Programme
RUBBER POLYMERS
Types of polymers, thermoplastics, thermosets, rubbers/elastomers, rubbers versus plastics, modulus versus temperature and time, glass transition, rubber elasticity, reinforced and non-reinforced rubbers.
REINFORCING MATERIALS
- Carbon black: sorts, properties and effect on rubber.
- Non-black fillers: types, properties and effects on rubber, influence on the polymer networking processes.
GENERAL PURPOSE RUBBERS
- Properties of general purpose rubbers (NR, SBR, BR, IIR).
- Rubbers for tires.
SPECIALITY RUBBERS
Oil-resistant and heat-resistant rubbers (NBR, CR, ACM, CO, ECO, FKM, Q, FVQ).
THERMOPLASTIC RUBBERS
- TPE's made from block copolymers, structure and properties.
- TPE's made from blends, particularly on the basis of EPDM and PP.
Vulcanization
Introduction to the mechanics of vulcanization, sulfur, peroxides, types of crosslinks, crosslinking reactions, cross-link density, additives, zinc oxide, vulcametry.
Vulcanization systems
Comparison of sulfur and peroxide vulcanization, difference in rubber properties, choice of system.
Bonding
Basic principles, bonding to plastics and steel cord.
Mixing technology
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, organization of a mixing shop.
Properties of rubbers
Material properties of vulcanized rubbers, standards, measurement methods.
Properties and applications
Rubber products, case studies, examples.
Ancillary processing methods
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.
Continuous vulcanization methods for
car profiles, radiator hoses, roofing foil, etc.
Batch-wise production processes
Presses, transfer moulding presses, injection moulding, types and layout of injection moulding machines, injection.
Injection moulding technology for rubber
Various vulcanization techniques, injection principles, dosage and injection, cold channel technology, de-gassing of cavities, mould-fouling.
Recycling/Rework
- Possibilities for re-work and recycling of rubber products, in particular tires.
- Developments in the market.
Seminar dates and location
The seminar will be held at the U Parkhotel, on the campus of the University of Twente.
At the moment no new course is scheduled, yet. As soon as a new dat is fixed, it will be announced on this website.
Course Fee
More information will be available at a later date.