*** Please note, each row and course# listed below is a separate, complete course. ***
Rubber Compounding for Performance
| Course# | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 018-1260 | 03/13/2025 - 03/14/2025 | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Microsoft Teams |
| 018-1261 | 06/12/2025 - 06/13/2025 | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Microsoft Teams |
| 018-1262 | 11/06/2025 - 11/07/2025 | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Microsoft Teams |
Online Registration
CEU's: 1.6
Instructor: John Dick
Course Overview
This two-day course is for both entry-level and seasoned rubber technologists. It will provide an intensive overview of rubber compounding for product performance and is based on the book, Rubber Technology and Testing for Performance (Hanser Publications). The textbook is included in the price of the course. The class is geared towards rubber compounders, rubber chemists, process engineers, product engineers, laboratory managers, R&D scientists, technical service representatives and material suppliers. Participants will have the opportunity to gain practical advice for their unique processing problems.
Course textbook (eBook PDF):
Rubber Technology: Compounding and Testing for Performance (eBook PDF)
Edited by John Dick
Online Course Requirements
We want you to have a great experience participating in our remote (online) courses, and for that, you’ll need the right equipment and internet connection.
Minimum needs are:
- A broadband internet connection that has at least a 2 Mbps upload and download speed.
- A computer (PC or Mac) that can support the latest web browser versions.
- At least 4 GB of RAM and adequate hard drive space.
- A microphone and a speaker.
- International Students: For virtual (online) courses, an additional fee will be assessed to cover the cost of shipping the professional binder (presentation slides), to your address. The cost of international shipping can be significant.
For more information, visit our Online Course Requirements webpage.
Instructor Biography:
John S. Dick, a senior rubber scientist with Alpha Technologies, has over thirty years of experience in the rubber industry. Mr. Dick has authored over 50 journal and magazine publications and four books on polymer technology. He received the Monsanto Master Technical Service Award in 1994, the ACS Rubber Division Best Paper Award in 1995 and a University of Akron Appreciation Award in 1998 for Teaching Polymer Compounding Courses in their Continuing Education Program. He is a Fellow of ASTM International receiving the Award of Merit in 1990. In addition, he has represented the United States as a delegate to the ISO for the last 20 years. He was appointed in 1992 to be Leader of the U.S. Delegation to ISO TC-45 on Rubber. Mr. Dick teaches rubber technology courses at both University of Akron and University of Wisconsin continuing education departments. He received his B.S. degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1970 and an M.A. from the University of Akron in 1979.
Introduction
- Structure of the rubber industry
- Product markets
- Chronology of rubber technology developments
- Basics of formulating
- Example recipes
- Types of poymerization processes
- Vulcanization
- Manufacturing processes
- Key processability characteristics
- Common factory problems and possible causes rubber testing
- Five categories of processability tests
- Miniature internal mixers and extruders
- Rotational viscometers
- Mooney viscosity
- Important test conditions for mooney
- Mooney scorch test
- Capillary rheometers
- Shear thinning
- Die swell
- Oscillating rheometers
- Oscillating disc rheometer (ODR)
- Disadvantages of ODR rotor
- Rotorless curemeter
- MDR die design
- Assignable causes of variation
- Rubber process analyzer
- ASTM standard test conditions
- Four test functions
- Rheological profiles of raw Rubber
- Rheology and state of mix
- Advanced cure profiles
- Aftercure dynamic properties
- Stress relaxtion tests
- Four types of SR testers
- Mooney stress relaxation test
- RPA stress relaxation test general purpose elastomers
- Different polymer backbones
- Molecular weight distribution differences
- Crystallinity and morphology
- Crystallinity on stretching
Natural Rubber Overview
- Advantages and disadvantages of NR
- Uses of NR
- Extrusion conditions for NR
- Effects on die swell
- MWD effects
- Effects on die swell from changes in NR/BR blends
SBR Overview
- Chemical structure
- Three types of SBR
- Advantages and disadvantages of SBR
- Uses for SBR
- Processing conditions for SBR
Polybutadiene Overview
- Chemical structure of BR
- Advantages and disadvantages of BR
- Other types of BR
- Uses for BR
- Processing conditions for BR
EPDM Overview
- Chemical composition differences
- Advantages and disadvantages of EPDM
- Uses for EPDM
- Optimal extrusion conditions for EPDM
- Common cure systems for EPDM
- Typical EPDM production recipes
- Effects of EPDM grades on compound properties
- EPDM and sponge formulations
Overview of Nitrile Rubber
- Chemical structure of NBR
- Advantages and disadvantages of NBR
- Uses for NBR
- Optimal conditions to extrude NBR compounds
- NBR structure effects on extrusion
HNBR Overview
- HNBR advantages and disadvantages
- NBR / PVC discussion
Butyl Rubber Overview
- Butyl Rubber structure
- Advantages and disadvantages of Butyl Rubber
- Processing characteristics of Butyl Rubber
Overview of Halobutyl Rubber
- Advantages and disadvantages of HIIR
Polychloroprene Overview
- Different types of CR
- Advantages and disadvantages of CR
- Uses for CR
- Optimal CR processing conditions
- Viscosity guidelines for CR compounds
Epichlorohydrin Overview
- Advantages and disadvantages
CSM Overview
- Advantages and disadvantages of CSM
- Compounding notes for CSM
- Avoiding zinc with CSM and CPE
Fluoroelastomer Overview
- Compounding notes for FKM
Silicone Rubber Overview
- Advantages and disadvantages of silicone rubber
- Processing silicone rubber
- Curing silicone rubber with peroxide
- Advantages of platinum cures
Polysulfide Overview
Polyurethane Rubber Overview
Thermoplastic Elastomers
- Advantages of TPEs vs. traditional elastomers
- Disadvantages of TPEs vs. traditional elastomers
- Styrene block polymers (SBS)
- Thermoplastic olefins (TPO)
Thermoplastic Polyurethanes
- Copolyesters (Hydrel)
- Thermoplastic vulcanizates
- Differences in shear thinning profiles
- Extrusion conditions for TPEs
Filler and Oil Systems
- Overview of fillers
- Particle size and shape
Carbon Black Overview
- Common carbon black tests
- ASTM D1765 classification
- ASTM grades of carbon black
- Particle size
- Structure
- Surface activity
- DBP absorption
- Effects of carbon black properties on processing
- Effects of carbon black properties on cured rubber properties
Oil and Plasticizer Overview
- Different types of softeners
- Determining factors for oil loadings
- Softening effects on compound
- The chemical structure of "oil"
- ASTM classification of rubber process oil
- Analytical methods for classifying oil
Overview of Synthetic Plasticizers
- Plasticizer performance
- Carbon black - oil balance and effects on rubber properties processing aids
Overview of Silica
- Types of silica
- Advantages and disadvantages of silica
Overview of Clay
- Types of clay
- Advantages and disadvantages of clay
Overview of Calcium Carbonate
- Comparison of different grades of calcium carbonate
Titanium Dioxide Overview
- Advantage and disadvantages of titanium dioxide