The acoustic resonance frequency of elastomer components correlates strongly with the degree of cross-linking. With a test rig developed at the IKV, the resonance frequency of small sheets of rubber can be measured in seconds. 

The current research aims to improve the accuracy of results obtained from a pin-on-disc tribometer by using stepper motors and linear actuators. Additionally, the research focuses on enhancing the tribological properties of PMMA by reinforcing it with 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 wt% SWCNT or MWCNT.

Rubber is used in numerous applications and due to this, different recipes are needed. For each recipe used, an individual mixing instruction has to be developed. The development of them is often based on personal knowledge. In order to generate mixing instructions in the future, the mixing process was investigated and modeled.

The present work examines the dynamic behavior of three rubber materials with varying hardness levels under sinusoidal loading conditions, focusing on their stiffness, damping factor, and sound level. A Kelvin-Voigt viscoelastic model was constructed in MATLAB to evaluate the system‘s displacement and acceleration responses, dynamically including stiffness and damping parameters depending on material qualities and applied loads.

The wall slip of various rubber compounds has far-reaching effects on the design of extrusion dies and extruder screws as well as on viscosity measurements. However, in most cases it is not possible to determine under which circumstances a compound adheres to the wall or slides.

For effective sulfur vulcanization, accelerators, sulfur and activators such as zinc oxide and fatty acids are used. Common accelerators often show incompatibilities due to low solubility in the rubber.

The current work focuses on improving the tribological properties of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) reinforced by 0.1-0.4 wt% SWCNT. The nano-composite samples were prepared to the cylindrical shape and subjected to friction and wear tests using pin on disc tribometer.

An essential component in an earthquake-resistant building is a seismic base isolator. Nowadays, seismic base isolators are usually produced from synthetic rubber such as Chloroprene Rubber (CR). This research investigated the possibility of combining CR and natural rubber. Specimens were prepared with different ratio compositions of CR and NR (SIR20).

The mechanical properties of filled elastomers are strongly influenced by the distribution of filler within the polymer matrix. We describe a modelling approach to the calculation of dynamic moduli of filled elastomers based on filler morphologies derived from the experimental interface tensions of the material‘s components.

Duromere kommen dann zum Einsatz, wenn die Eigenschaften von Thermoplasten ihre Grenzen erreichen. Hierfür könnten spezielle UV-härtende Reaktivharze genutzt werden, die durch UV-Bestrahlung reagieren und in Sekundenschnelle aushärten. In einem Forschungsprojekt wird das Potenzial dieses Verfahrens untersucht und nachfolgend die erzielten Ergebnisse vorgestellt.