Effect of Cyclic Heating on Silicone Rubber Materials for Elastomeric Tooling

摘要

Elastomeric tooling (El) is used to fabricate composite parts of various sizes and shapes, in order to either intensify or redistribute the pressure during a molding cycle. The material properties of four commercial ET materials exposed to the actual temperature and pressure cycles followed to manufacture composite parts, and in presence of a composite material laminate were measured, in order to assess the material's longevity under actual service conditions, and ultimately reduce part defects due to ET used beyond its optimal conditions. Employing standard test methods and more recent equipment, the property changes were measured in the following properties: dimensions; hardness; Young's modulus; compressive stress-strain slope, and strain; color,mark-off.