The Spring 2003 Technical Meeting
was held April 3rd at Rapps Paradise Inn, Ansonia, CT
Tom Jablonowski of Crompton Corporation illustrated Using the Internet as a Research Tool in the Rubber Industry. On-line examples were shown of rubber-related sites for suppliers, organizations and manufacturers. Supplier sites have current product offerings and contacts. Several sites provide fluid resistance guides, some specializing in a certain polymer such as fluoroelastomers. One site shown has the comprehensive solvent resistance guide developed by the Los Angeles Rubber Group. Two manufacturers have rubber glossaries and several have elastomers
use guides posted on their web sites.
Dr. Myer Ezrin with the Institute of Materials Science at the University of Connecticut spoke on Troubleshooting Rubber Processs and Product Failures. The major factors in rubber failure were grouped into material, design, processing and service conditions. While we are all aware of the intentional additives put into rubber compounds, Dr. Ezrin gave examples of unintentional additives that can impact rubber failure. The five broad mechanisms of rubber failure were indicated to be overload, fatigue, environmental degradation, anomalies (internal or external irregularities) and a combination of the other four. Several real-life examples of specific product failures were discussed, including how IMS Associates has identified the factors and mechanisms involved. For more information contact: e-mail:myer.ezrin@uconn.edu
Joel Neilsen of Sid Richardson presented three studies in EPDM on the effect of carbon black particle size and structure. Three new blacks with lower tint values were shown to have broader particle size distribution that leads to higher resilience and lower heat buildup. For more information, see: e-mail:jgneilsen@sidrich.com
After dinner, Ralph Annicelli, the CRG historian, showed pictures from past meetings through to the present. It was fun to try to remember the names of many familiar faces.
Dr. Myer Ezrin with the Institute of Materials Science at the University of Connecticut spoke on Troubleshooting Rubber Processs and Product Failures. The major factors in rubber failure were grouped into material, design, processing and service conditions. While we are all aware of the intentional additives put into rubber compounds, Dr. Ezrin gave examples of unintentional additives that can impact rubber failure. The five broad mechanisms of rubber failure were indicated to be overload, fatigue, environmental degradation, anomalies (internal or external irregularities) and a combination of the other four. Several real-life examples of specific product failures were discussed, including how IMS Associates has identified the factors and mechanisms involved. For more information contact: e-mail:myer.ezrin@uconn.edu
Joel Neilsen of Sid Richardson presented three studies in EPDM on the effect of carbon black particle size and structure. Three new blacks with lower tint values were shown to have broader particle size distribution that leads to higher resilience and lower heat buildup. For more information, see: e-mail:jgneilsen@sidrich.com
After dinner, Ralph Annicelli, the CRG historian, showed pictures from past meetings through to the present. It was fun to try to remember the names of many familiar faces.