Mr. Thomas Rauschmann of Bareiss GmbH
The All India Rubber Industries Association's Southern Region in collaboration with Mr. Thomas Rauschmann of Bareiss GmbH held a webinar on March 14, 2024. The rubber industry is global, with manufacturing happening around the world for all major companies. In India, a large customer base use ODR, thus the Webinar had topic - 'Use of RPA for better understanding of curing and processing properties of rubber compounds and blends'. The webinar was conducted through Zoom and recorded an attendance of 90 plus professionals.
The Webinar was moderated by Mr. Ankit Jain, Chairman, AIRIA - Southern Region. The Webinar which focused on the use of Rubber Process Analyzer for better understanding of processing of curing and processing properties of rubber compounds and blends, enabling rubber producers and product manufacturers to standardize for uninterrupted productivity and consistent quality.
The Specialist, Mr. Thomas boasts over two decades of experience in the field and currently is a Consultant at Bareiss Prufgeratebau GmbH supporting development of advanced test methods for polymers and compounds.
Webinar covered topics such as current compound testing standards in the rubber industry, lack of detailed material information from QC Instruments like Mooney and MDR, use of RPA for enhanced sample characterization using different test modes, Bareiss RPA Ultra and it's USP - a fully rotational lower die, and use cases of RPA Ultra's steady shear mode including processability analysis, wall slip measurements etc.
To determine material properties before, during and after the vulcanization process, the most commonly used versions in the rubber industry are a Mooney Viscometer and Rotational (Moving Die) Rheometer. Both apply a shearing force to a polymer sample within a sealed cavity. The reactionary torque of the sample is measured by a transducer and used to determine material properties. Test time, frequency, amplitude and temperature can all be varied to investigate more advanced material characteristics. The Mooney Viscometer is the industry standard test for pre-vulcanization properties and has long been synonymous with the rubber industry. Typically, Mooney Viscosity (MU) is used as a yardstick the gauge the quality of raw materials, especially in grading natural rubber.
The Moving Die Rheometer (MDR) is used extensively throughout the rubber industry to measure the curing properties of any compound at a given temperature. The cure properties can be used for compound formula optimization and to perform inter- and intra-batch quality control. Providing a snapshot of how and when vulcanization occurs, the MDR cure curves are an invaluable resource to rubber technologists who need to take account of both pre- and post-cure processing effects during any production line.
Why Rubber Process Analyzer (RPA)?
The wide variety of products created in the rubber industry includes the creation of materials and inputs for other industries. With this variety and immense range of needs comes requirements of advanced tools to ensure specifications. Industries as varied as tire makers and footwear companies depend on high-quality rubber that meets their exact needs. Those needs span uses from hard rubber used in furniture to pliable rubber used in rubber bands.
Mr. Thomas introduced the RPA Ultra, an advanced rubber process analyzer (RPA) rheometer to help the range of manufacturers throughout industries perfect their rubber products through testing, guaranteeing the appropriate properties of each final rubber product, whether an exercise band or an input for an automaker to use as bumpers.
What is the new RPA Ultra?
The RPA Ultra combines highly dynamic measurement methodology with maximum rigidity. With a fully rotational lower die, the RPA ultra achieves shear rates at unprecedented levels. The high sampling rate of the RPA ultra reveals hidden material characteristics. This new type of advanced RPA testing allows access to valuable information contained in higher harmonics, steady shear viscosity or non? elliptical Lissajous figures.
AIRIA-SR Webinar Presentation in progress
