Course: Essentials of Rubber Technology
January 21, 2025 @ 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
CEUs: 0.4 (To receive the CEUs, attendees must attend the course live and promptly complete the survey evaluation after the course.)
Location: This course is available virtually only and can be taken from the comfort of your home or office – remotely from any tablet, laptop or computer.
Course Overview: Participants can expect to gain a fundamental understanding of rubber materials and processing during this training.
Course Content:
– what is rubber and its history
– basic polymer chemistry and how to use it
– why engineers use rubber
– differences between rubber and plastic
– types of rubber
– how to select the type of rubber for the application
– how rubber compounds are formulated
– how rubber compounds are mixed
– rubber curing and its relationship to properties
– how to test rubber
– rubber bonding
– rubber molding
– improving rubber part quality
– how to write and interpret a rubber specification
Learning Objectives:
– demonstrate the difference between natural rubber and synthetic rubber
– contrast the difference between thermoset rubber and thermoplastics
– choose the correct rubber system for specific applications
– discuss the most common testing methods used to classify rubber characteristics
– describe and contrast the characteristics between different fabrication methods
– recognize the importance of cross-link density relative to rubber characteristics
– apply the principles presented to create specifications and improve the quality of rubber articles
What a previous attendee of this course has to say:
“I took the Essentials of Rubber Technology course. I am new to this industry and was concerned it would be far over my head. I am in sales and needed to better understand how to qualify prospects. This course gave me the ‘why’ behind the questions I need to ask to make sure the solution I offer is the right fit. The right solution for the right application at the right price makes all parties happy.” – John Sullivan
Price: $350 Member / $450 Non-members / Free for Undergraduate Student Members / $50 for Other Student Members
Instructor: F. Joseph Walker, Elastomer Technologies
Bio: Joseph Walker is owner and founder of Elastomer Technologies a firm dedicated to training in elastomer materials and process engineering, technical assessments, and fit-for-function design reviews. Over the last 45 years, Walker has conducted training for major organizations and universities. He has also consulted for various customers in the areas of composites, testing, materials, and shop-floor problem solving. His focus is a heightened awareness of the science behind rubber technology and improving the overall image of the rubber industry toward one of science-bases decision making through increased educational outreach. He is also active in driving awareness to supply chain risks and threats to the US rubber industry.
For 24 years he was held positions at Freudenberg-NOK and then Freudenberg Sealing Technologies where he retired as global technology director for materials and laboratories for Freudenberg Sealing Technologies and Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies (FNST). In this position, he was globally responsible for overseeing advanced materials technology and management of the FNST/FST laboratories. He was also the regional USMCA leader for Chemical Regulatory Compliance for FNST.
Prior to joining Freudenberg, Walker served as silicone rubber business team leader for Wacker Silicones Corp. There, he was responsible for research, development, and sales and marketing. He was an engineering fellow for Alliant Techsystems (formally Honeywell Defense and Marine Systems), where he focused on material design, processing, and application for various U.S. Department of Defense programs. Walker also held positions at Stauffer Chemical, Phillips Petroleum and Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. He continues to conduct numerous trainings at various industry workshops, universities, and events.
He was the 2012 chairman of the American Chemical Society, Rubber Division; a member of the Rubber Industry Advisory Board for Ferris State University; board member of the Association of Rubber Product Manufacturers and is past-chair and board member of the Detroit Rubber Group. Additionally, he is a member of Society of Automotive Engineers, Society of Plastics Engineers, Original Equipment Suppliers Association, Automotive Industry Action Group, and the Americas Tech Team of the American Chemistry Council. A graduate of Lawrence Institute of Technology, he holds more than 20 patents and has authored and edited various chapters in text and industry publications.