| |
Compounding
involves choosing the rubber, the amounts and types of vulcanizing
ingredients, protective agents, fillers and possibly synthetic
rubbers, and mixing them together on a mill, or in an internal
mixer. When these are vulcanized under appropriate conditions
a rubber article appropriate to the requirements specified
is obtained.
The rubber manufacturer can supply vulcanizates having
a wide range of physical and chemical properties to suit
almost any application, although it should be observed that
conflicting requirements in a particular application may
necessitate some compromise. In such cases it is to everyone's
advantage, not least the customer's, to define as closely
as possible the working requirements of the rubber. Over-specification
in unimportant properties may be to the detriment of the
essential requirements of a component or give rise to unnecessary
difficulty and expense.
|
|
