New Products: MonTech shows off new rubber testing options at IEC

COLUMBIA CITY, Ind.—MonTech Rubber Testing Instruments, a firm that designs and sells tight threshold rubber lab and testing instruments, is showcasing two new options for its rubber process analyzers, rheometers and Mooney viscometers at this year's virtual International Elastomer Conference.

The Midwest team of rheologists, application managers and software and service engineers has designed a low viscosity torque transducer option for all its MonTech RPAs, moving die rheometers and Mooney viscometers, as well as a chiller option that increases the low temperature range for RPA testing. The chiller option is offered for specific MonTech MDRs.

The torque transducers—there is a low viscosity and ultra-low viscosity option—offer a microscopic range of torque pressures to apply to elastomers during testing.

The low viscosity option offers a .0001dNm to 52dNm range and can be used for testing low viscosity silicone, medical tubing, latex, TPE and TPVS.

The ultra-low viscosity torque transducer has a torque range of .0001dNm to 21dNm and can be used to test extremely low viscosity materials such as tire sealants, glues, adhesives and low viscosity silicones.

Traditionally, RPAs are used to perfect compound processability, verify rubber raw materials, problem solve and simulate end-use conditions. They are becoming more widely used today, according to MonTech.

Rheometers are used to measure the change in flow characteristics under an applied stress, and viscometers can measure Mooney viscosity, scorch and stress relaxation data.

In addition, MonTech has come out with a -40°C chiller option for its rheometer and RPAs. The external liquid cooling system allows for testing under extreme low temperatures, even approaching glass transition temperature.

Applications for the chiller option include testing for production of raw materials and polymers, such as outdoor and automotive materials. This system augments the instrument's inherent temperature control system, and the heating system in the dies remains unchanged.

MonTech, whose instruments are made in Germany, also offers abrasion testers and bale cutters, as well as supporting software and industry information.

The company serves the aerospace, industrial, medical, automotive, construction, energy, tire, mining and consumer products industries.

The International Elastomer Conference runs through Oct. 23 at rubberiec.org and is organized by the ACS Rubber Division.

The New Products blog showcases innovations suppliers are introducing to the rubber industry. It focuses on new materials, machinery, molds, testing equipment, software and other goods and services that are intended to help manufacturers of finished rubber products. The blog will appear on Tuesdays and Thursdays. To have your product considered for the blog, contact Managing Editor Erin Pustay Beaven at [email protected] or Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].