Compression flexometer and technique of checking out rubber

1
Compression flexometer and technique of checking
out rubber

• Flexometer is used for testing in engineering
  purposes a lot of times. The compression
  flexometer is a dynamic test capable of measuring
  the heat built up within a rubber product or
  sample following compression, as well as any
  deformation that can occur to it following a
  change in its temperature.
• A flexometer test measures the developing heat
  inside a rubber material due to a cyclic
  compression. This is important as this Heat
  increase inside the rubber material can cause
  complete internal degradation, which would be
  dangerous for, e.g., tire treads and other parts.
  Just like the Rubber process analyzer is
  important for categorizing rubber material, this
  test is important for determining the outcome of
  change in temperature.

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The Flexometer is used to determine the effect on
rubber subjected to constant compression load
under certain amplitude and frequency to assess
its rising speed of temperature, dynamic and
permanent deformation. It is available for
testing rubber with a hardness from 30 to 85 IRHD.
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• How is the basic Flexometer Test performed?
• Usually, the test is performed with a static load
  followed by a dynamic stroke. This test is called
  the Heat-Build-Up (HBU) test. The measuring
  methods for rubber also include visco analyzer,
  rebound resilience tester, moving die rheometer
  test to determine various properties and
  behavioral changes.
• Rubber, vulcanized-determination of temperature
  rise and resistance to fatigue in flexometer
  testing. It involves investigating strength
  properties of solid materials like rubber by
  application of mechanical stress by applying
  steady bending forces.
• The characteristics of this test are
• Determining tensile strength, permanent set at
  break, hardness, etc., of rubber under
  compression or the amount of permanent set due to
  the fatigue and heating of rubber while under
  compression.

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• Use of apparatus and procedure for testing
  rubber to study rubber compounds which go into
  the manufacturing units. An apparatus comprising
  means for compressing a sample of rubber like
  material is used.
• Segregating the better grades of rubber. The
  apparatus is especially useful in determining the
  quality of rubber compounds to be used in shock
  absorbers or the like where the rubber in service
  is subjected to compression.
• A machine for testing resilient compressible
  material, comprising means for compressing a test
  specimen, means for flexing.
• Material testing apparatus comprising a pair of
  specimen clamping members relatively movable in
  substantially parallel planes,.means for
  compressing the specimen to be tested between. 

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• A machine for testing permanent distortion of
  resilient compressible materials due to flexure
  while under compression.
• Assessing flexing endurance and also
  determining the formation of cracks in creases.
  The flexometer counts the number of movement
  repetitions before the rubber surface starts to
  become brittle and forms cracks.
• Producing recovered data in a variety of graphs
  including temperature build up versus time, and
  the strain of the sample under compression versus
  time.
• Testing the resistance of rubber materials to
  flexing and temperature changes is the basic and
  essential step for manufacturers to commence new
  product research and development. It can help
  people in mastering the properties of materials
  to make the right decision on choosing
  appropriate raw materials to be converted into
  high quality finished goods.