Entwicklung eines in-situ-Vulkameters

von A. N. Gent u. K. Xie

An in-situ curemeter has been developed to follow the cure of thick articles during molding, by measuring continously the dynamic mechanical properties (shear modulus and loss angle). It is a small-scale version of the Oscillating Disk Rheometer, designed to operate through the mold wall. An approximate theoretical treatment has been developed to relate the oberserved torque and loss angle to the dynamic properties of the rubber compound. Experiments were carried out with both unfilled and carbon-black-filled natural rubber compounds. Cure times measured by the curemeter were about the same as those obtained with the Oscillating Disk Rheometer. Modulus values inferred from the measured torques were compared with directly-measured values obtained from load-deflection curves for fully-cured specimens. Good agreement was found.