ELASTECH
 

About the Book

About the Author

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About the Book

This book provides in a single source a unified and comprehensive perspective of elastomer (rubber) materials, molding methods and mold design. It broadly classifies thermoset elastomers (TSEs) and thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) by their viscosity and their chemical nature, with emphasis on high-viscosity elastomers, the major-use elastomers. It describes the molding of these by compression, transfer, and injection, and by hybrid methods such as injection-compression and injection-transfer. Mold fouling (dirtying), a significant problem that occurs mainly with TSEs, is discussed along with mold cleaning techniques. Mold release techniques and adhesives are described for both TSEs and TPEs.

The molding of TPEs by injection molding and blow molding is discussed. A separate chapter that compares and contrasts the injection molding behavior of TSEs and TPEs should benefit personnel who transition between TSE and thermoplastic molding operations.

Low-viscosity materials vary substantially in composition and these are molded using varied methods and equipment. Examples described are: polyurethanes molded by casting and reaction-injection molding; liquid silicone rubber molded by injection; and plasticized polyvinyl chloride molded by rotational and dip methods.

The 148 figures in the book clearly illustrate the molding equipment and mold design principles used for different materials and molding methods. They also illustrate mold components (sprues, runners, gates etc.) and the relevance of these components to the overall molding system. Emphasis is on non-tire molding, with lesser discussion of tire molding. Additional information includes troubleshooting approaches, and descriptions of secondary operations such as deflashing.

This book, which bridges the gap between theory and practice, provides knowledge that is essential to technical professionals, and that is informative and useful to all involved in elastomer molding. It includes an extensive list of references for readers who wish to further examine selected areas of elastomer molding.

About the Author

John Sommer, a registered professional engineer in Ohio, with an M.S. in polymer chemistry, progressively gained wide experience by working with many materials, processes and products over a 50-year career in the elastomers industry—mainly with GenCorp. His activities resulted in 42 technical publications and 16 U.S. Patents, one of which became the technology base for a new company.

He organized and chaired the first symposium on rubber molding for the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in 1978 and taught mold design as a credit course in the Department of Polymer Engineering at the University of Akron. He has made over 100 presentations on molding at universities, technical societies, and at manufacturers of elastomers, elastomer products, and molds. Recognition includes the Melvin Mooney Award from the Rubber Division ACS, a distinguished Service Award from the University of Wisconsin (Milwaukee) for teaching continuing engineering courses for over ten years, and listings in Who's Who in Technology and in American Men and Women of Science.

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