Effect of Composition on Shrinkage of Mold Cured Elastomeric Compounds
Abstract The mold shrinkage of elastomer compositions depends upon the elastomer employed, the volume percent of elastomer plus all other organic materials, and the kind and amount of pigment present. The specific effects of pigments in inhibiting the shrinkage are shown. A procedure is given by which the shrinkage of most soft rubber compositions of the common elastomers may be calculated from the recipe. The major part of the shrinkage of elastomer compositions is due to the much greater thermal contraction of the composition than that of the mold. This portion of the shrinkage depends upon the thermal coefficient of expansion of the composition and mold and the temperature difference between the curing and room temperatures. A minor part of the shrinkage is due to a contraction in volume resulting from vulcanization. For normal soft rubber stocks with sulfur concentrations of three phr or less and for normal neoprene stocks, this factor may be neglected. For stocks having higher sulfur ratios an allowance needs to be made for this factor. Shrinkage of fiber loaded stocks should be determined carefully depending on the quantity, and particularly on the degree of orientation of the processed stock.