An intensive 5-day seminar for engineers in the rubber industry, suppliers and users.

In short

Duration
5 days
Language
100% English-taught
Starting date
Date not available
Location
UParkhotel, University of Twente
Available places
We have 25 places available
Difficulty
Intermediate
Contact
secretariat-ete-et@utwente.nl

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.

The seminar dates are 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 June 2026.

Monday June 22	08:30 - 17:00	19:00 dinner (incl.)
Tuesday June 23	08:30 - 17:00	no dinner included
Wednesday June 24	08:30 - 17:00	no dinner included
Thursday June 25	08:30 - 17:00	19:00 Conference dinner in Enschede city centre (incl.)
Friday June 26	08:30 - 17:00