Using blowing agents to generate a cellular design frequently improves the density and mechanical performance of the final product. During their breakdown and the curing reaction, these blowing agents produce gas. It is possible to characterize both curing and blowing in a single experiment by measuring sample pressure during the curing reaction and quantifying the blowing reaction. In order for the final result to have the proper cell architecture, these two processes must be balanced.

Processing greatly affects the van der Waals interactions, which enhance modulus in rubber packed with carbon black. In this illustration, identical samples are taken out of the mixer and milled for various amounts of time. Up to 8 minutes of milling, the carbon network structure was reduced with each additional minute of milling, after which the modulus did not vary with milling time. This gives important details on how much milling is required to get a consistent working material.

NextGen’s RPA Ultra – Advanced Rubber Process Analyzer pneumatic parameters are min. 4.5 Bar (11.5 kN) / 60 psi.

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