Since its introduction to the rubber industry in 1992, the rubber process analyzer has transitioned from mostly research and development applications, to factory problem solving, and ultimately into nine standard ASTM and ISO methods for day-to-day routine quality assurance applications.
This paper discusses the development of RPA methodologies and procedures to more effectively characterize raw elastomers, measure and predict processability of mixed stocks, analyze scorch and cure profiles, and predict the performance of rubber products from measuring after-cure dynamic properties.