R. Rajesh Babu

Recent Developments on Thermoplastic Elastomers by Dynamic Vulcanization

A comprehensive overview is given of the recent developments of thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) with special reference to the technological advancements. TPVs combine the high volume molding capability of thermoplastics with the elastomeric properties of thermoset rubber. Therefore, they lend themselves to a broad range of applications in various fields. TPVs represent the second largest group of soft thermoplastic elastomers, after styrenic-based block copolymers. TPVs have undergone evolutionary changes in terms of the selection of polymers, design of crosslinking, compounding techniques, and methods of production, and have achieved better elastic recovery, easy processability and low hardness etc.

Compounding and Vulcanization

Compounding is a unique requirement of the rubber, generally not found in other material. The performance properties can be controlled by properly selecting and adjusting various compounding ingredients. The stages of rubber product manufacturing are broken down into three primary classes: selection of compounding ingredients, mixing or compounding, and vulcanization techniques or final product manufacturing process. The present chapter gives a brief introduction of the all classes with their importance. By proper selection of the variables in each class, the properties can be manipulated from virtually incompressible with a bulk modulus some thousand times greater than shear modulus, to large extent impermeable to gases and liquids and with excellent recovering and abrasion resistance etc.