PLLS 0007 - Principles of Rubber Technology

Course Description

This course will provide a firm understanding of the essential principles of rubber and will explain its remarkable behavior. During the course, the relationship between science and engineering will be made clear. The course will explore, in detail, the principles of engineered rubber behavior and rubber chemistry. These scientific principles will be applied to the fabrication of molded rubber articles during the creation of a rubber composition suitable for a specific function.

Through this course, you’ll attain an advanced knowledge of applied rubber science, increasing customer confidence and bringing a competitive advantage to your organization.

Course Outline/Topics

The course will consist of the following:

Essentials of polymer science
Using polymer science to explain and predict rubber-media interactions (compatibility)
Rubber crosslinking (curing/vulcanization) and importance of selection of crosslink type
Engineering characteristics of rubber
Differences between rubber and plastics
Differences between natural rubber, bio-based rubber and synthetic rubber
How rubber is classified
Choosing the rubber polymer: Why choose one over the other?
Designing with rubber: Precepts of “Form-Fit-Function-Safety”
Essentials of rubber tooling design, taking into account the fundamentals of rubber science
Essentials of creating the rubber compound: choosing the ingredients and their significance
Mixing technology with the focus on mix consistency: mixer types and method development
Testing and evaluating the mixed rubber compound: testing what matters vs. what’s easy
Science-based rubber molding
Types of rubber molding
Ensuring the consistency of rubber article behavior
Rubber insert molding: steel, aluminum, plastic and their surface preparations
Auditing your processes: traceability

Benefits and Learning Outcomes

Understand why rubber behaves as it does
Exhibit knowledge of rubber recovery science and why it matters
Recognize why rubber is used as an engineering material
Explain the difference between different rubber polymers and what makes them unique
Apply knowledge to design a rubber compound for a specific function
Demonstrate the essential design review details for rubber molds
Break down the process of choosing the best mixing method for rubber compounds
Formulate opinions on why specific tests should be conducted to measure consistency in rubber batches
Analyze the differences in rubber molding methods and justify the choice of one over another
Develop a rubber molding process that ensures consistent performance from cavity-to-cavity and shot-to-shot
Create a comprehensive rubber specification based on scientific principles.
Evaluate the importance of rubber bonding and its connection to surface science

Who Should Attend

Professionals dealing with the principles of applied rubber who are in the areas of marketing, sales, design engineering, compounding, process development or quality control of rubber articles.

Partners & Professional Credits

Professional Development Hours 21.0 PDHs

Applies Towards the Following Credentials

Elastomer Technology Certificate : Elective