Process and apparatus for improving and controlling the vulcanization of natural and synthetic rubber compounds
US7245985B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 11, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jul 17, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 1, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29K2021/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A process for curing a natural or synthetic rubber compound under a plurality of curing conditions by: (1) obtaining time dependent data streams of dielectric or impedance values from a non-bridged impedance sensing circuit and a capacitor having the rubber compound being cured as a dialectric; (2) determining impedance related measurements from the obtained data streams; (3) determining a predictive curing equation by performing a multiple regression between: (a) reheometric data obtained from a plurality of different rubber compound samples cured in a rheometer at various environmental curing conditions, and (b) corresponding samples cured in a production mold at the same environmental conditions; (4) adjusting the curing equation to obtain cured parts having one or more desired properties; and (5) controlling the mass producing cured parts with a controller that uses the curing equation for predicting a cure time for each part, wherein the predictions are effective over variations in the rubber compound, and in the mold temperature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.