John S. Dick Books

"Practical Rubber Rheology and Dynamic Properties" provides a unique overview of rubber rheology from a practical perspective. Written by expert authors with many years of experience in the rubber industry, it focuses on applications of rubber rheology testing to solving industrial problems, rubber compound development, predicting changes in processability in the plant, quality assurance, and research and development. However, basic principles are also covered. Aimed at practitioners in the rubber industry, this book promotes understanding of the material to support efficient production of the high-quality rubber products demanded in today's market. It is also suitable for students and their instructors on rubber courses taught in universities.

Rubber compounding is a very complex endeavor. There are many interactions and many ways to achieve the target properties and economic goals while maintaining an acceptable trade-off for these characteristics. This book is dedicated to providing the reader with various experimental ideas which may guide him or her to developing better compounds and solving technical problems. In a combined effort, 20 reknown industrial esperts compiled a large number of diverse experimental suggestions for enhancing a specific compound property. By reviewing the suggestions in this book, the compounder may develop a better "feel" for how to best achieve a compromise or trade-off with compound properties when developing new or improving tested rubber recipes.

The rubber industry is a vital part of the world economy. In this age of constantly changing economics and raw material "shortages of the week," this book should help the reader understand the overall technical and economic problems that are emerging which are beginning to affect the overall availability of many raw materials, chemical intermediates and final rubber products on the world scene. This book is truly unique in that it is the only one that traces all the important organic and inorganic synthesis routes for the manufacture of synthetic rubbers, various fillers, plasticizers, oils, curatives, antidegradants, adhesion promoters, flame retardants, tackifiers, and blowing agents through their respective intermediates to the base raw materials from earth extractions and agriculture.

This practical guide focuses on cost-effective rubber compound formulation to optimize processing and performance. It thoroughly discusses rubber compounding principles, testing methods, and the impact of various compound changes on properties and measurements. The text presents rubber compounding as interdependent systems, including elastomer, filler-oil, and cure systems, emphasizing a holistic approach to understanding how changes affect specific compound properties. Attention is given to trade-offs in properties, highlighting the importance of balancing compound cost, processing characteristics, and product performance. Key topics include processing characteristics, compound performance testing, economic considerations, and compounding methodologies. It covers elastomer selection, general-purpose and specialty elastomers, polyurethanes, thermoplastic elastomers, and recycled rubber. The guide also delves into filler loadings, synthetic plasticizers, sulfur and peroxide cure systems, resin cures, adhesion promoters, blowing agents, flame retardants, and mixing techniques. This comprehensive resource is essential for those involved in rubber technology, providing insights into achieving optimal performance through effective compounding strategies.