Reverse Engineering of Rubber Products

Saikat Das Gupta is chief scientist in research and development at Hari Shankar Singhania Elastomer and Tyre Research Institute (HASETRI), India.

This unique book describes the techniques used to discover which materials and processes were used to produce a particular vulcanized rubber compound from a combination of raw rubber, chemicals, and pigments. It covers polymer identification, carbon black percent calculation, volatile separation, and ultimately the reengineering of the chemical formulation of an unknown rubber product. This is an invaluable reference for anyone who wants to gather comparative benchmark information, discover formulations used throughout the industry, improve product performance, and shorten the product development cycle.

Compounding Ingredients and Formulation Construction: Introduction. Elastomers: Properties, Uses, and Vulcanization. Fillers. Protective Agents. Vulcanizing Chemicals. Processing Aids. Formula Construction. Principal Chemical and Analytical Methods Used in Reverse Engineering: Chemical Analysis. Infrared Spectroscopy. Thermal Analysis. Chromatography. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Microscopy and Image Analysis. Mass Spectrometry. Principal Physical Test Methods: Introduction. Visco-Elastic Behavior. Elastic Modulus. Some Special Features of General Physical Tests. Reverse Engineering Concepts: General Concepts and Examples. Formula ReconstructionSpecific Example. Numerical Problem on Reverse Engineering. Formulation Reconstruction: Case Studies: Tire Tread Cap. Tire Sidewall. Tire Inner Liner. Heat Resistance Conveyor Belt Cover Compound. Fuel Hose Cover. Rubber Seal. V-Belt Compound. Rubber Covered Rolls. Rubber Part in Rubber-Metal Bonded Ring. Non-Black Elastic Tape. Rubber Diaphragm of Audio Speaker. Rubber Sealant. Bibliography. Appendices: Statistical Aspects of Chemical Analysis. Material Properties. Conversion Factors. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy. Glossary. Index.