RUBBER AND RUBBER TECHNOLOGY

Content

Weeks	Topics
1. Weeks	Introduction Fundamental Concepts a. Concepts of monomer and polymer, naming of polymers according to the number of monomer species and the arrangement of monomers; crystalline and amoprphous polymers. b. Classes of polymers on the basis of deformation behaviour: Thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers. c. Properties required from a polymer to be a suitable candidate for an elastomer.
2. Weeks	* Fundamental Concepts (continued): d. Definition of elastomer; comparison of elastomers with thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers. * Brief History of Rubber *Types of Rubber: a. Golden rules: Considering the chemical bonds and the present atoms for the estimation of i) resistance to heat, ozone, and petroleum fluids, and ii) possibility of sulphur/peroxide vulcanization. b. Natural rubber, Polyisoprene rubber, Styrene-butadiene rubber, Polybutadiene rubber.
3. Weeks	*Types of Rubber (continued): b. Butyl rubber, Ethylene-propylene rubber, Polychloroprene rubber, Acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, Hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, Fluorocarbon rubber, Silicone rubber.
4. Weeks	Types of Rubber (continued): c. A comparative summary of rubber properties. Properties and Testing of Rubber: a. Properties and testing of unvulcanized compound; Mooney viscometer and rheometer. b. Properties and testing of the vulcanizate; hardness, density, tensile strength, elongation at break, tear strength, abrasion resistance.
5. Weeks	Properties and Testing of Rubber (continued): b. Properties and testing of the vulcanizate (continued); rebound resilience, viscoelastic properties, creep and stress relaxation, low temperature properties, electrical properties, compression set, ageing in air, resistance to fluids, ozone resistance, thermal analysis. Compounding Materials: a. Compound recipe, volume cost, types of dispersion of ingredients.
6. Weeks
7. Weeks	*Compounding Materials (continued): b. Fillers; carbon black, silica and silicates, inactive non-black fillers.
8. Weeks	*Compounding Materials (continued): c. Plasticizers / process oils. d. Vulcanization process and vulcanization chemicals.
9. Weeks	*Compounding Materials (continued): d. Vulcanization process and vulcanization chemicals (continued).
10. Weeks	Compounding Materials (continued): e. Activators. f. Antidegradants. g. Processing aids. h. Other ingredients. Properties of the raw materials. Processing and Associated Equipment: a. Mixing.
11. Weeks
12. Weeks	*Processing and Associated Equipment (continued): a. Mixing (continued). b. Calendering. c. Extrusion and vulcanization of extruded articles.
13. Weeks	Processing and Associated Equipment (continued): d. Moulding / Press vulcanization. e. Post-curing. f. Finishing operations and storage. Engineering with Rubber.
14. Weeks	*Rubber Products: a. Tyres b. Belts. c. Rubber-to-metal parts. d. Sealing elements. e. Profiles. f. Hoses. g. Footwear. h. Wire and cable. i. Other products.