Novel 3D Printed Liquid Crystal Elastomers and the Characterization of their Anisotropy, Rate-Dependency, and Dissipation Properties

Overview Liquid-crystal elastomers (LCEs) uniquely combine molecular ordering with entropic elasticity. The result is a class of anisotropic elastomers with remarkable properties spanning stimuli responsive actuation to exceptional dissipation of mechanical energy. Our group has recently developed a range of photopolymerizable LCE resins and inks which we 3D print using direct ink writing (DIW) and…

Correlating Cured Rubber Characteristics to Product Performance

Overview New product design is expedited by gathering product performance metrics early in the compound development process. These key metrics link to final product performance and answer common questions: How will my product perform in its final application? Is performance guaranteed over the lifetime of the product? Predicting mechanical rigidity, suitability to end-use environmental conditions,…

Techniques for Rubber Compound Processing and Production Success

Overview Have you experienced manufacturing performance differences between batches of materials, despite seeing no difference in specifications or cure data? Do you want to reduce scrap, improve processing efficiencies, and minimize variability in your manufacturing process? Join us as we adventure beyond the cure curve and look at additional testing methods to correlate material characteristics…

Polymer Properties for Compound Formulation: Determining Polymers That Lead to Successful Products

Overview The polymer used in a compound recipe is critical to compound processing behavior and final product performance, yet polymer characterization is an under-utilized technique in the rubber industry. Traditionally, the rheological behavior of the raw polymer is characterized using Mooney viscosity, which provides limited information. The Rubber Process Analyzer (RPA) can better characterize…

Rubber Process Analyzer (RPA) for Elastomer and Compound Development and Quality Control

Rubber Process Analyzer (RPA) for Elastomer and Compound Development and Quality Control The Rubber Process Analyzer (RPA) is an important tool for developing – and controlling the reliable manufacture of – elastomers and compounds. The RPA can provide far more information than traditional rubber testing methods such as the MDR or Mooney viscometer. In this…