Product category:
Engineering Conferences
News Release from: Smithers Rapra
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 27 April 2005
Speciality elastomers described in
Geneva
Rapra has revealed some of the highlights of its recent High Performance and Speciality Elastomers Conference in Geneva.
At the recent Rapra conference on High Performance and Speciality Elastomers 2005 in Geneva, Switzerland, the International Rubber Study Group presented data showing that the global demand for natural and synthetic rubbers continues to grow (+4.3%) Supply continues to meet demand, however, there is potentially a long-term problem with natural rubber supply due to increased costs of production
The situation is alleviated in some cases as SBR substitutes NR when the prices are favourable.
Martin Forrest of Rapra talked about a government-funded project on food contact elastomers - the study has examined the migration of chemicals from different rubber compounds.
Fluroroelastomers continue to be refined to meet end user requirements.
Dupont Dow Elastomers, Solvay Solexis and Daikin Chemical all presented papers on new fluorocarbon elastomers (FKM) offering improved process characteristics and mechanical properties.
The new synthesis route developed by Solvey Solexisi for their HS Tecnoflon grades simulated much discussion.
Dow Corning presented property data for new fluoroelastomers (FSR) showing that they are suitable for high temperature dynamic sealing applications.
Independent property data generated by Rapra Technology shows that under extreme temperature conditions (-50 to +200C) FSR retains its basic mechanical properties to a greater extent than FKM.
In addition, blends with VMQ and fillers can provide a cost effective solution.
Asahi Glass Fluoropolymers described some FEPM Aflas grades launched to improve process characteristics.
Seals Eastern gave a practical approach for the selection of the most appropriate cure system (TAIC and BPAF) for FKM and FEPM elastomers.
Test data were presented for dry heat up to 275C and water and oil resistance.
Instead of assessing performance via a change in tensile strength and elongation, their approach was to use strain energy, ie the area under the stress-strain curve up to 20% elongation.
The presentation also highlighted the gross changes in properties that are acceptable according to the ASTM D2000 specifications.
Lanxess has developed a new process to manufacture HNBR grades that significantly lowers Mooney viscosity (ML1+4/100C) from 71 to 39.
These grades therefore offer significant competitive advantage in terms of injection moulding and fibre penetration.
The trade off is slightly lower tensile strength and higher compression set but without significant loss in dynamic performance.
A number of papers were presented on the use of nanofillers in elastomers.
Precision Polymer Engineering has explored the benefits of a new crystalline perfluoropolymer nanofiller in FFKM.
Significant improvements in tensile strength and moderate improvement in elongation were found.
For elastomeric seals, excellent plasma resistance and chemical resistance were also reported.
Konstantinos Gatos presented work on the effects of platelets - aspect ratio on the properties of HNBR/organoclay nanocomposites.
Mechanical properties were less affected by the platelet aspect ratio compared with oxygen permeability.
Milliken Speciality elastomers has developed a silver ion based additive that can be added directly to the mixer to provide antimicrobial resistance.
Although there are some limitations, due to the interaction of silver with the cure system, the Elastoguard additive provides effective long-term protection against a broad spectrum of micro-organisms.
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