Manufacturing
& Sales
1374 Markle Street
Akron, Ohio 44306
U S A
voice 330.773.6654
fax 330.773.6273

Office Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

FAQ

General Questions

What is the weight range for a pre-packaged bag?

We process individual bags up to 25 lbs, consistent with effective operator handling. For small batch applications, 5 to 6 lb bags are available.

Can you package in low-melt batch inclusive bags?

Our pre-weighed bags are available in meltpoints ranging from 68 degrees C up to 125 degrees C

Why consider fiber reinforcement of elastomers?

Incorporation of precision cut fibers into rubber or plastic matrices imparts dimensional stability to parts and forms made from such mixtures. In many cases, directional reinforcement of such parts can be obtained by orienting the fibers in the material into which it has been incorporated by milling or calendering before thermo-setting or thermo-forming the finished elastomeric part. The reinforcement of such elastomeric formulations by such fibers is evident by an increase in the 'toughness' of the final elastomeric part with increased tear strength, hardness, moduli, and chunk-out resistance being noted.

Why is fiber orientation in an elastomeric material significant?

There are many applications of elastomeric materials which require uniaxial flexure or bending or uniaxial rigidity. In such applications the directional reinforcement of such materials through the use of precision cut fibers that have been directionally oriented in the elastomeric matrix by calendering or milling can produce parts that have moduli in one grain direction (with the grain) that can be 4-6 times higher than in the cross grain direction.

How are fibers best incorporated into elastomers?

Mixing precision cut fiber into an elastomer requires that: the fiber bundles be 'wetted out' by the elastomeric matrix, the bundles be broken up into discrete fibers, and then dispersed uniformly throughout the elastomeric matrix. This is usually accomplished in a high shear, internal mixer such as a Banbury, Henschel, or on a mixing mill. When using internal mixers with batches that contain precision cut fibers, care must be taken that as mixing is done that temperature does not rise too much. Such fibers will increase the internal friction of the batch and increase the heat generated during mixing. Such mixing should include cooling water being turned on in the mixer. The overall batch size can also be reduced somewhat in order to reduce the temperature build up effect.

What fiber characteristics influence such reinforcement?

There are several fiber properties that can affect this directional reinforcement. These would include: fiber aspect ratio (L/D), fiber length, fiber type, the presence of any chemical bonding materials on the fibers, fiber loading and how well the fiber is dispersed in the elastomeric matrix.