Dates of experiments - 19/10/2022

Experiment number - 02

Title: -

Determination of Cure Characteristics and Physico-

Mechanical Properties of Natural Rubber Gum Stock
Compounds

Name : - MEESARA N.D.S

Index Number: - EGT20508
Summary
In this experiment we were prepared natural rubber gum stock compound using two roll mill. The
aim of this experiment was various instruments to determine cure characteristics and physico-mechanical
properties of prepared compounds.
Firstly, RSS Rubber was masticated using two roll Mill. Then rubber chemicals were added to the
masticated rubber. Then tensile sheet was made using hydraulic press. After that samples were cut for
tensile and tare tests using P-VS 3000 sample cutter machine. Then tensile test and tare test were done.
After hardness was failed using IRHD hardness testing machine. Therefore, again hardness test
done using Shore A hardness tester. Thereafter thickness was measured in two samples using thickness
gauge. Three samples were measured and got an average value.
Finally Rebound resilience test was done for measure the bounce of the rubber using rebound
resilience RB 3000 testing machine.

Introduction

Gum stock Compound - A rubber compound that contains only the chemicals required for vulcanization

as well as trace amounts of extra ingredients such as processing aids, colours, and

antioxidants.

Technical compound - A rubber compound that contains reinforcing filler, vulcanization components,

and smaller amounts of other materials such as processing aids, colors,

antioxidants, and plasticizers.

Experiment
Equipments and Instruments

Figure 1 – Two Roll Mill Figure 2 – Digital Weighting Scale

Figure 4 – Thickness gauge

Figure 3 – Shore A Tester
 Figure 6 – Universal Testing
Machine
Figure 5 – Rebound Resilience RB
3000 Testing machine.

Figure 8 – Din Abrader ABR 3000

Figure 7 – IRHD Hardness

Testing Machine
Rubber Chemicals

Figure 10 – MBTS
Figure 9 – RSS Sheet

Figure 11 – Zinc Oxide

Figure 12 – Stearic Acid

Figure 14 – Sulfur
Figure 13 – TMQ (Antioxidants)
Procedure
Mastication Process
1. Firstly, the batch weight was given (300 g).

2. Secondly, the weight of rubber and other ingredients according to the formulation was calculated.

Table 1 – Gum stock compound formulation

Material (phr) 300 g

RSS 100 267.86
Zinc Oxide 5 13.39
Stearic Acid 3 8.04
MBTS 1 2.68
Sulphur 2 5.36
Antioxids 1 2.68

3. Thirdly, Above rubber ingredients were measured using digital scale.

4. The mill machine's rollers and surroundings were properly checked and cleaned.

5. The nip was made sure that free of objectives and other kind of obstruction.

6. The mill rolls and mill tray should be clean and free of dirt and other impurities.

7. The mill's lubricant and water circulation are working properly was checked.

8. The mill's nip was appropriately adjusted to zero adjustment and alignment was checked.

9. The safety devices were checked in good working order.

10. Oil Grease was Checked.

11. The water tap was closed and used cleaning rubber to warm up the mill rolls to around 60 degrees

Celsius.

12. Raw RSS tackiness was checked.

13. Then RSS was cut into small pieces.

14. Nip size gap was adjusted at 1.2 mm.

15. After, Two Vernier Callipers were checked they are identical.

16. Then cleaning batch was fed into the machine.

17. Nip size gap was reduced at 0.8 mm.

18. Then masticated rubber was banned in front roller

19. Transparency nature was appeared.

20. After that activator System was added. (Zinc oxide).

21. Then Rubber was distributed well In the Roller (Dispersive mixing).

22. Then Front roll tap was opened.

23. Then stearic acid was added into rubber.

24. The rubber was distributed well.

25. TMQ (Antioxidants) was added into the rubber.

26. Then the rubber was distributed well.

27. The compound was in high temperature.

28. Therefore, it was cooled using fan.

29. Next, Second Stage Mixing was started.

30. Then blue and red color pigments were added.

31. TiO2 was added for increase color brightness.

32. The masticated rubber was Cooled (Because we want add accelerators)

33. MBTS (Accelerator) was added.

34. Then compound was mixed well.

35. After, Sulfur (Crosslinking agent) was added.

36. Nip size was adjusted to 1.5 mm.

37. After that two-roll mill was process over.

38. Masticated Rubber was kept in the mold.

39. Then Mold was put into the hydraulic pressing machine.

40. After that machine was started.

41. After 20 minutes vulcanizing rubber was got out.

42. Excess parts (Flashes)were cut.

Sample Cutting (ASTM Standard – D142)

Figure 16 – Sample Cutter PVS 3000

1. Cured sample was place in the machine. (Sample cutter – pvs 3000)

2. Pressure air valve was opened.

3. Dumble shape sample was cut using Dumble shape cutter (Tensile sample 01)

4. Again, tensile sample 02 was cut using dumble shape.

5. Then another tensile sample was cut using dumble shape cutter

6. After that Tare sample was cut using angle shape.

7. Thickness was measured using thickness gauge.

8. Tensile sample 01 average value is 2.411

9. Tensile sample 02 average value is 2.33

10. Tensile sample 03 average value is 2.231

11. Tare Sample 01 average value is 2.194

12. Tare Sample 02 average value is 2.214

Tensile Test (ASTM Standard – ASTM - D3039)

1. Firstly, instrument was turned on next computer was turned on.

2. N/R Carbon black Folder was selected as the location for save in software.

3. The gauge size was adjusted.

4. Gauge length was 240 mm.

 Figure 17 – Universal Testing Machine

Sample 01
1. Speed was adjusted 400 mm.

2. The folder was clicked new.

3. Gum compound was renamed as sample 01.

4. Sample dimension 2.411 mm was input to software.

5. 500g load cell was loaded.

6. Sample was placed between two jaws.

7. Extension meter was set.

8. The machine was started.

9. The Sample was broken.

10. Press √ button in software. Figure 18 – Tensile Samples

Sample 02
• The thickness was changed into 2.332 mm.

• Values were set to zero (N and mm).

• Same procedure was followed.

• The machine was started.

Sample 03
• The thickness was changed into 2.231 mm.

• Same procedure was done.

• Finally, the results were saved as pdf.

Tear Test 01
• New series was tested.

• Under tear NR/ carbon black was selected.

• Gauge length was 230 mm.

• Test speed 400 mm (normally use this speed)

• Jaws were adjusted.

• Main title was renamed as sample 01.

• Thickness was 2.214 mm.

• Sample was loaded into machine. Figure 19 – Tear Sample

• Values (N, mm) were set to zero.

• Test was started.

Tear Test 02
• Thickness was adjusted to 20.194 mm.

• Same procedure was followed for testing.

• Finally, the results were saved as PDF.

Hardness Test (ASTM standard – ASTM – D1415)

• Two sample hardness buttons were got in vulcanized rubber.

• Then Shore A tester was selected to measure the hardness.

• Three readings were measured in each sample and got average value.
 Figure 20 – Hardness Testing

Results and Observations

Graph 01 - Tensile Test Results.

Graph 02 – Tear Test Results.

Graph 03 – Rheometer Report.

 Table 2 – Thickness and width of cured compound testing sample.
Sample Thickness (mm) Average Width(mm) Average
thickness(mm) width(mm)
2.26 5.8
A 2.27 2.27 5.93
2.28 5.8
2.26
B 2.28 2.27
2.27
2.26
C 2.25 2.26 6.00
2.26
2.36
D 2.28 2.33
2.36
2.36
E 2.34 2.33
2.28

Table 3 – Shore A Hardness Test Results

Sample Hardness (shA) Average Hardness(shA)

26.4
A 26.4 26.27
26.8
26.3
B 25.9 26.53
26.6

Table 4 – Density Test Results.

Sample Weight Density Average Density

7.69 1.121
C 7.69 1.118 1.12
7.69 1.090
 Table 5 – Rheometer Report.

Discussion

In this experiment natural rubber gum compound was prepared. Gum compound means rubber

compound without fillers. Firstly, mill machine was checked and cleaned because something was in the

mill machine that can be caused to damage to the rollers. When rollers were hot, rubber was banned in

back roll. Therefore, water taps were opened when rolls were hot. While rubber was masticated, a process

called distributive mixing was carried out, where the rubber was cut using mill knife and distributed well.

This was done as dispersive mixing was not enough for good masticating.

All the compounds were added according to the mixing order. The activator system: Zinc oxide

and stearic acid were added into the compound. TMQ was added to provide the antioxidant properties.

TiO2 was added to increase the brightness of the compound. Before adding the accelerators, the rubber

was allowed to cool. MBTS was added in order to accelerate the mastication process. Finally, sulfur was

added to make crosslinks as the crosslinking agent. If sulfur was added before the other chemicals,

crosslinks will be made, and the compound won’t be mixed.

Masticated rubber was put into the compression molding pressing machine to vulcanize the

rubber and to make tensile sheet. Samples were cut into dumbell and angel shape to do the tensile test.

Elongation was extremely high because in the gum compound properties are very high. Tensile strength is

higher than the RSS compound.

 According to the graph 01 tensile test results the highest elongation value at break value has

sample 03. This elongation at break value shows that how much a material can be stretched. According to

that sample 03 is the most stretched sample. According to the Graph 02, Natural rubber gum stock

compound has high tear strength value than the RSS and also according to table 03 hardness of the gum

stock compound is higher than the RSS.

According to the graph 03 scorch time is higher than the RSS.

Conclusion
Gum stock compound was prepared using rubber chemicals, processing aids, colours and

antioxidants. After masticating the compound, samples were cut into dumbel and angle shapes to do tests.

Then tensile test, Tear test, and shore hardness test were done. Results and observations were obtain using

machines. Graphs and tables are mentioned above.

Calculation
Calculate gum stock compound formulation
100
× 300 = 267.86 g
112

Every math was calculated like these.

Tensile Strength calculation

𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
𝑇𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔ℎ𝑡 =
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎

𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 × 𝑊𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ

Elongation Test

△𝐿
𝐸𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = × 100
𝐿
References
• Elongation : What is it and Why Does it Matter? (strouse.com)
• stress at break - Google Search
• Tensile Testing - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics