Cure related issues continue to plague rubber molders in a variety of ways, from excessive warranty liability exposure to suboptimal cycle times. In an effort to address the issue, rubber molders are getting more and more innovative in finding ways to monitor and control the curing process. One method of cure monitoring that is gaining increasing acceptance is the use of in-mold dielectric monitoring. This method has been shown to be especially effective in monitoring and controlling the production of polar materials such as neoprene, HNBR, and fluorelastomers- common compounds in the production of high quality automotive seals and gaskets. This paper describes the dielectric control methodology, including theory, background, and results from the field. Data from actual production applications is also included and analyzed.
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