7. Conclusions

Formulating a rubber product is a delicate operation, requiring considerable knowledge of structure-properties relationships and, of course, of the parameters of the compounding process. A good formulation combined with a mediocre mixing operation will not achieve the desired properties.

As demonstrated in this article, during the mixing and vulcanization of rubber parts, a number of chemical reactions take place which mean that the final composition of the rubber can be significantly different from that of the products introduced into the internal mixer. Similarly, throughout its life, the composition of rubber objects will vary as a result of ageing or migration/exudation of certain products, which can make the use of rubber in certain applications sensitive.

This whole series of elements requires a great deal of in-depth knowledge, brought...