Abstract: The objective of the mixing process of rubber compounds in an internal mixer is to blend the ingredients of the formulation into a uniform, well dispersed mix. Hence the mixing sequence and parameters are designed to assure batch to batch uniformity, fast reduction of viscosity and to make the most efficient use of time, power and equipment for optimum productivity. This research aims at showing a better way of achieving reduced viscosity using optimized mixing sequence and parameters by comparing the usual approach of temperature controlled mixing and energy controlled mixing in the internal mixer. The effects of the various mixing conditions, sequence of addition of ingredients and internal mixer parameters were observed in terms of time, dump temperature, energy used and Mooney viscosity of the compounds. The results show that the application of energy controlled mixing criteria as a priority in place of temperature controlled mixing criteria, with properly optimized sequence of addition of ingredients and control of internal mixer parameters (temperature, energy, RPM and ram pressure) is an effective method of controlling compound viscosity.
Keywords: viscosity, energy, temperature, mixing control, rubber compounds.
Title: Effect of Sequence of Mixing and Internal Mixer Parameters on the Viscosity of Compounds for Tire Components
Author: Oluwatobi Elijah Akindele, Thomas Kurian, Umesh Gopi
International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations
ISSN 2348-1218 (print), ISSN 2348-1226 (online)
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