Sabahi Enterprises / Polymers & Plastics Industry

Rubber & Elastomer

Elastomers generally refer to materials that can return to their original shape after removing external force, but elastic materials are not necessarily elastomers. Elastomers only deform significantly under weak stress, and can quickly recover to close to the original state and size after stress relaxation.

Compounding technology for rubber compounds is the process of mixing various raw materials, such as rubber, fillers, curing agents, and other additives, to achieve the desired properties of the final product. Elastomers are a type of polymer that exhibit rubber-like elasticity and are commonly used in a variety of applications, such as tires, seals, and gaskets.

Xinda has build many compounding lines for rubber and elastomer industry both at home and abroad, such as TPO, TPE, TPU, SEBS and Rubber seal compounds.

Mixing

The raw materials are combined in a mixing chamber. Such as a Banbury mixer or a two-roll mill, and mixed together until they are evenly distributed.

Curing

The mixture is then subjected to heat and pressure, which activates the curing agent. It causes the rubber to cross-link, or bond, to the other materials in the mixture.

Extrusion

After mixing, the compound is fed into an extruder, which melts and homogenizes the mixture. The extruder has a screw that rotates and pushes the molten compound through a die, which shapes the compound into the desired form, such as pellets or strands.

Testing

The cured compound is then tested to ensure that it meets the desired specifications for properties such as hardness, tensile strength, elongation, and resilience.

There are several factors that must be considered when compounding rubber compounds and elastomers. Including the specific properties required for the final product, the processing conditions, and the cost and availability of raw materials. Fillers, such as carbon black or silica, can be added to improve properties such as wear resistance and stiffness, while plasticizers can be added to improve flexibility and reduce stiffness.

Overall, the compounding technology for rubber compounds and elastomers is a complex and specialized process that requires a deep understanding of the properties of the materials involved and the desired end-use applications.