Development of a Method to Fingerprint Rubber Fuel Hose Materials.

摘要

Elastomeric fingerprinting is a quality control procedure designed to provide a reproducible graphical trace of a unique rubber compound. Comparative analysis between the first and subsequent production runs of the rubber compound is made possible and to some extent, quantifiable. This procedure, coupled with industry standard physical tests, will enable rigorous configuration control of the production of rubber goods. This report documents the work done to develop an elastomeric fingerprinting procedure based on acetone extraction, Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetry using Navy rubber fuel hoses as test samples. The elastomeric fingerprinting procedure is intended for use in Government/commercial procurements where the purchaser does not own the rubber compound formulations, yet requires production consistent with the first, approved rubber product.