Injection Molding of Rubber Obturator Pads

摘要

The purpose of this effort was to reduce production costs for fabricating 155mm rubber obturator pads by using the injection molding process. A neoprene rubber compound specified for molding 155mm rubber obturator pads was tested to determine its processability using the injection molding technique. This compound was shown to be compatible with the injection molding process and an injection mold was fabricated for molding 155mm obturator pads. The 155mm rubber obturator pad can be vulcanized in 8 minutes by injection molding as compared to 2 hours for compression molded pads. Injection molded pads met the dimensional requirements of Drawing No 11578862 and were successfully test fired in the M109 Self Propelled Howitzer and the M198 Howitzer. (Author)