pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S10 - Rheology and Rheometry
Oral Presentation
 
 

A New Device for Measuring Shear Viscosity of Rubbers on a Rubber Injection Molding Machine

Fasching Michael (1)*, Friesenbichler Walter (2), Leitner Eduard (2), Berger Gerald (2)

(1) Polymer Competence Center Leoben GmbH - Styria - Austria, (2) Injection Molding of Polymers, Montanuniversitaet Leoben - Styria - Austria

The measurement of shear viscosity for rubber compounds is a challenging task, as the contribution of the fillers like carbon black or silica to the measurement result is dependent on the material prehistory. Thus, the capillary rheometer and especially the rubber process analyzer show different measurement results compared to what is observed in the actual injection molding process. This work presents the development of a new rheometric injection mold which is mountable on a standard rubber injection molding machine and therefore allows the measurement of the material condition of the actual injection molding process (taking into account effects of shear forces of dosing screw). The fixed half, where the shear viscosity measurement is carried out, is equipped with a rectangular slit and 4 pressure sensors as well as 2 heat flow sensors to be able to detect and correct frictional heat occurring during the measurement. Frictional heating might also initiate the curing reaction for rubbers equipped with curatives. Consequently, the upper part of the measurement slit is attached to the movable mold half to enable the demolding of the rubber compound. The moveable half comprises of a cylindrical shape and a hydraulic plunger, which is able to (1) measure the actual flow rate (corresponding with the shear rate in the slit) via a displacement transducer and (2) allows the application of counter-pressure to enable the evaluation of the pressure dependency of shear viscosity. The demolding of the rubber compound in the movable half is enabled by angular sliders which compose the cylindrical cavity. As first results obtained with this new measurement concept, shear viscosity curves of a NBR compound filled with carbon black in configuration with and without curatives are presented and compared to conventional measurements on a capillary rheometer.