Course: Scientific Rubber Molding
June 18, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 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. It can be taken from the comfort of your home or office – remotely from any tablet, laptop or computer.
Course Overview: This program is designed to show how to establish a rubber molding process based on cross link density. The course is designed to show the influence of cross link density on mechanical properties, as well as its influence on de-molding. The overall focus is the design of a rubber molding process that yields the most consistent properties.
Course Content:
– selection of the correct polymer characteristics to match the molding process
– understanding curing of rubber
– how to measure cure state
– relationship between cure state and physio-mechanical properties
– role of mold temperature and its variation reduction
– heat transfer models in predicting cure time
– insert molding
– selecting mold release
– post mold curing
– verification of the molding process
Price: $350 Members / $450 Non-members / Free for Undergraduate Student Members / $50 for Other Student Members
Instructor: F. Joseph Walker, Elastomer Technologies
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.