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Combined Effects of Hot Curing Conditions and Reaction Heat on Rubber Vulcanization Efficiency and Vulcanizate Uniformity
Author(s) -
Wang Xiaoxia,
Jia Yuxi,
Feng Ligang,
An Lijia
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
macromolecular theory and simulations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.37
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1521-3919
pISSN - 1022-1344
DOI - 10.1002/mats.200800101
Subject(s) - vulcanization , curing (chemistry) , silicone rubber , materials science , natural rubber , composite material , thermal , heat transfer , thermodynamics , physics
A mathematical model of the chemical kinetics of silicone rubber vulcanization is developed, with the thermal effects being computed using the increment method, and the hot vulcanization process estimated with the finite element method. The results show that the reaction heat of rubber vulcanization is important for energy saving, and that a proper curing medium temperature is important when considering both vulcanization efficiency and vulcanizate uniformity. The results also indicate that increases in the forced convective heat transfer coefficient have no significant effect above a certain level. The validity of the numerical model is indirectly proven by comparison with existing data.