Material Development
We understand that customers expect our products to perform as required each and every time. That’s why we pay close attention to their application requirements, helping them choose the right rubber and plastic materials. We not only develop and test compounds, we verify the quality and consistency of the materials used in our products.
In our Material Development Laboratory we formulate, mix, mold, chemically and physically test, and conduct sophisticated analyses on rubber and plastic materials. We have a computer-controlled Farrel Banbury® internal mixer and laboratory mill in which we prepare rubber compounds for molding and testing. Using molds produced in our Rapid Tooling Center, we mold test specimens and prototype parts. We measure the viscosity and cure characteristics of our materials in our Mooney Viscometer and Moving Die Rheometer (MDR) to ensure their processability. We verify that our materials will perform in a variety of conditions by conducting heat aging, fluid immersion, and compression set tests in our hot air ovens and cold temperature environmental chamber.
We use an Instron® universal test machine to measure tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, ultimate elongation, tear strength, and compression / deflection properties. Our technicians verify the quality and consistency of incoming materials using our Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR). We also conduct specialized tests such as abrasion tests to determine wear properties and fuel permeation tests to ensure that our materials meet CARB and EPA requirements.
Our material development team develops a wide range of materials — from high-performance to economical — with the right blend of properties to perform in a given application. Our expertise results in cost-effective materials that provide increased product reliability and greater peace of mind for our customers.
