The Shrinkage of Mold Cured Elastomer Compositions
Abstract The coefficient of expansion of elastomer compositions depends on the kind of polymer employed, the volume per cent of polymer plus all other organic materials, and the kind and the amount of pigment present. The specific effects of pigments in retarding the shrinkage are shown. A procedure is given by which the shrinkage of most soft rubber compositions of the principal rubbers 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 of the material from which the mold is made. This portion of the shrinkage depends on the thermal coefficient of expansion of the composition and the mold material and the temperature difference between the curing temperature and room temperature. A minor part of the shrinkage is due to a contraction of volume resulting form vulcanization. For normal soft rubber stocks with sulfur ratios of three parts 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.