The successful manufacture of engineered rubber products is complicated. It involves different disciplines, materials, and types and designs of equipment.Problems sometimes occur because of less-than-desirable communication among personnel involved in the development and manufacture of rubber products. This book's intent is to improve communication among different disciplines. Using a systems approach, it is further intended to introduce chemists and engineers to the unique capabilities of rubber in a wide range of tire and non-tire products.It is the author's experience derived from teaching a number of rubber-related courses over several decades that much relevant and useful rubber literature is underutilized, resulting in reinvention of the wheel.This book, which incorporates extensive bibliographies in most of its sections, can be read by individual section of interest or in its entirety. The reader is encouraged to obtain relevant references to broaden his or her reach.IntroductionElastomers and CompoundsCompound Mixing and ProcessingTesting and PropertiesProduct DesignUse of Computers and FEA with RubberNon-Tire ProductsTires

John Sommer is a registered professional engineer in Ohio. His long career in the rubber industry includes 28 years at GenCorp Research where he worked on a wide range of technical activities. He has published over 50 papers and one of his 16 U.S. patents formed the technology base for a new company. He has made over 100 presentations to universities, technical societies and manufacturers of rubber products. He currently lectures at the University of Akron and the University of Wisconsin (Milwaukee).

IntroductionElastomers and CompoundsCompound Mixing and ProcessingTesting and PropertiesProduct DesignUse of Computers and FEA with RubberNon-Tire ProductsTires