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- Compression set (6)
- Elastomer (6)
- Dynamic mechanical analysis (5)
- DSC (4)
- Glass transition (4)
- Low temperature behaviour (4)
- Sealing material (4)
- Ultrasound (4)
- Curemeter (3)
- Dichtungen (3)
The method for the determination of compression set values with a Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) setup at low temperatures, which was presented previously, allows a much faster and readily automated procedure than the standardized compression set test according to ISO 815-2. This method is applied to a series of different elastomeric materials that are commonly used for sealing applications. The results of the compression set test are compared with results from thermal analysis to allow an in depth comparison of the material behaviour at low temperatures.
Furthermore, a comparison between two EPDM materials is presented. These materials show very similar properties determined by thermo analytical methods such as Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) but differ clearly in their compression set behaviour. This comparison shows the importance and value of information of the compression set test in addition to thermal analysis to judge the behaviour of sealing materials and confirms the relevance of the new compression set test method for the investigation of low temperature properties of elastomers.
Partial discharges may cause damage to electrical insulation of high voltage equipment. They initiate elastic waves in the insulating material, e.g. in the stress cone of an outdoor termination. Localisation of the origin of such elastic waves can help to predict serious damaging processes in the electrical insulation. In order to measure and evaluate the wave propagation effects in typical multilayered elastomeric structures, knowledge of the material properties is required. The propagating velocity and the attenuation of longitudinal waves are important parameters. Values for these quantities found in the literature were not appropriate. Therefore, for cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) and cured liquid silicone rubber (LSR), the longitudinal wave velocity and the attenuation were evaluated in the temperature interval from -20°C to 50°C and in the frequency range from 200 kHz to 600 kHz using a two-sample ultrasound technique. The loss factor was determined from these measured quantities. Additionally, low frequency Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA) was applied to investigate LSR and XLPE in a temperature interval between -100 and 50°C and to check qualitatively the ultrasound data.
To achieve the required tightness levels of Containers for low and intermediate level radioactive wastes rubbers are widely applied as main sealing materials. The save encapsulation of the radioactive Container contents has to be guaranteed according to legislation and appropriate guidelines for long storage periods as well as down to temperatures of-40 °C during transportation.
Therefore the understanding of failure mechanisms that lead to leakage at low temperatures is of high importance.
It is known that the material properties of rubbers are strongly influenced by temperature. At low temperatures this is caused by the rubber-glass transition (abbr. glass transition). During continuous cooling the material changes from rubber-like entropy-elastic to stiff energy-elastic behaviour, that allows nearly no strain or retraction. Therefore, rubbers are normally used above their glass transition but the minimum working temperature limit is not defrned precisely, what can cause problems during application. The temperature ränge where full functionality is possible is strongly dependent on the application conditions and the material.
For this investigation mainly ethylene propylene diene (EPDM) and fluorocarbon rubbers (FKM) were selected as they are often used for radioactive waste Containers.
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) are typically used for the determination of the temperature ränge of the glass transition process. The standardized compression set measurement according to ISO 815 is common for investigation of rubber sealing materials as the test simulates the seal behaviour after release. To reduce the test time of the Standard tests a faster technique giving the same information was developed.
Additionally, the breakdown temperature of the sealing function of complete O-ring seals is measured in a component test Setup to compare it with the results of the other tests. The experimental Setup is capable of measuring the leakage rate at low temperatures by the pressure rise method.
A model was developed that allows calculating the minimum working temperature limit of a seal by combining the results of the applied methods.
Rubbers are widely used as sealing material in various applications. In many fieldsthefunction of seal materials at lowtemperatures is required. Therefore the understanding of faiiure mechanisms that lead to leakage at low temperatures is of high importance. Therefore the lower Operation temperature limit of rubber seals should be determined in dependence of the material properties.
The results of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) are combined with results of standardized measurements as the compression set according to ISO 815. To reduce the test time of the Standard tests a faster and more efficient technique was developed and applied. In addition the breakdown temperature of the sealing function of O-ring seals at lowtemperatures is measured in a component test Setup in dependence of the material and the degree of compression.
Carbon fibre prepregs have found widespread application in lightweight constructions. They are based on a carbon-fibre fabric impregnated with reactive epoxy resin. DMA measurements under temperature conditions similar to an autoclave programme were carried out using commercially available prepreg material with a high glass transition temperature. The characteristic of the temperature programme was a dynamic heating segment at 1.5 K/min followed by a longer isothermal segment at 180 °C. The courses of the storage modulus E', loss modulus E'' and tanδ were recorded. The measuring frequency was varied between 1 Hz and 33.3 Hz. Gelation and vitrification are assigned. The influence of the measuring frequency on the time to vitrification and the correlation with DSC are discussed. The reaction does not end even after 10 h curing at 180 °C, which is interpreted as the slow cessation of the reaction caused by vitrification.
Today rubber is due to its unique property profile one of the most important materials for the production of bearings, dampers or also tires and tubes. In the production of rubber goods a chemical cross-linking reaction (vulcanisation) generates the final material properties. This process takes place during the shape giving of the rubber compound in the mould and can proceed for several minutes. The cross-linking process is influenced by the mixture of the basic polymer, the cross-linking agent, the influence of catalysts and inhibitors and especially the processing conditions. The quality of every ingredient, the reproducibility of the mixing ratio, the homogeneity of the mixture and the accurateness in temperature control can have a direct influence on the cross linking reaction. To control the quality of a rubber compound and verify the processing conditions in industry moving die rheometers, named curemeter, are involved in the production process. Starting from our experience in cure monitoring of thermosetting materials by measuring ultrasound velocity in the mould we extended the measuring principle to rubber vulcanisation monitoring. After first investigations using a compression mould we dealt here with on-line monitoring of vulcanisation in an injection moulding process which is one of the most used techniques in rubber industry.
Monitoring the vulcanization of elastomers: Comparison of curemeter and ultrasonic online control
(2009)
The vulcanization of elastomeric materials has a high impact on the properties of the final product. Therefore, it is important to monitor and control this crosslinking process. A common technique to attain the necessary curing time is the use of a curemeter in accordance with ISO 6502 in order to determine the time for full cure of a sample with a standardized geometry. Based on this result and a lot of practical experience, the required curing time for a given product geometry is estimated. Within the scope of this work, a new analysis technique will be compared with the standard procedure. The ultrasonic online control employs ultrasound waves to measure the changes in material properties caused by vulcanization. For this study, a natural rubber compound with a conventional curing system was investigated by both techniques. It was found that the results of the ultrasonic technique show good agreement with the results of the curemeter.
In consideration of the influence of the curing reaction on the material properties of elastomers, it is very important to control the vulcanization process properly.
As shown previously [1], the effects of the vulcanization reaction of an elastomer can be monitored by use of ultrasonic sound waves. This technique has to a certain degree a high similarity to the standard curemeter test according to ISO 6502 but can be applied also inside a production tool.
So far, the method was only applied to the vulcanization of one compound at a given temperature and sample thickness. This is now complemented with measurements on another compound system at different temperatures and sample thicknesses.
The expected effects of temperature and thickness on the curing behaviour were found by use of the ultrasound online control.