Sealing plates: structure, morphology and cross-linking
Rafał Anyszka, Otmar Dobrowolski, Paweł Schulz, Ludomir Ślusarski, Adam Tracz
Quarterly No. 3, 2012 pages 159-164
DOI:
keywords: sealing plates, technology, structure, micro-morphology, cross-linking
abstract The technology of sealing plates has been outlined, paying attention to the analogy and differences between this technology and rubber technology. The structure and micro-morphology of sealing plates were investigated by the methods of SEM, AFM and nanoindentation. An oscillatory rheometer was successfully used to examine the cross-linking course of the elastomer contained in the plate and accompanying phenomena. Significant differences were found between the courses of sulfur and peroxide vulcanizations. It has been observed that the rubber contained in the plate, after cross-linking, does not form a continuous phase but occurs in the form of isolated clusters, mostly including very thin membranes. There are also numerous visible agglomerates of fillers, especially in the middle part of the plate. It has been found that during plate formation and rubber vulcanization, a considerable temperature gradient occurs. The findings create conditions for the modification of sealing plate technology.