Rubber Technologies

The professional interest of the group focuses on a comprehensive study of processing, production and characterization of rubber to achieve an overall understanding of the influence of individual factors, such as composition of the blends and processing conditions or external degradation agents on the resulting product properties. In the Centre, it is possible to prepare testing samples of mixtures/blends on a calendering line, multi-roller and internal compounder. After complete rheological characterization, it is possible to produce testing specimens in various shapes as well as rubber products from the prepared blends by moulding/ pressing. There is also a co-extrusion rubber line available for preparation of profiles from silicone and other rubber compounds. This line includes a vulcanization chamber, extraction and cutting equipment and on-line measurement of the geometry of the extruded profiles. The domain of the group is a deep professional qualification in the field of theoretical and experimentally-analytical description of mechanisms and mutual structural connections/ relations of fracture behaviour of rubber depending on the effects of degrading mechanical and physical influences. In addition to the usual mechanical and thermal methods, tests on a Vulcometer, a unique Tear and Fatigue Analyzer characterizing the resistance of rubber against spreading of the crack during cyclic fatigue load, and a Chip & Cut device determining the dynamic abrasion of rubber for heavy-duty tires are available for characterization of materials. The Intrinsic Strength Analyzer as the only device determining the energy needed to create a crack, is also available. An integral part of basic and applied research is the characterization of thermal processes in mechanically loaded rubber components by a high-speed thermo-camera. The group also focuses on the development of new rubber testing methods for properties that have not yet been determined, such as in-situ monitoring of the development of heating inside a cyclically loaded rubber body, where a unique test device was developed for this analysis.