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Smithers Expands Polymer Analysis Capabilities

7 March 2000

Smithers Expands Polymer Analysis Capabilities

    AKRON, Ohio, March 7 Smithers Scientific Services Inc. has
expanded its polymer analysis capabilities with the installation of an RPA
2000.  The RPA (rubber process analyzer) is designed to provide high quality,
precise and repeatable viscoelastic property data on raw polymers or
elastomeric compounds before, during and after vulcanization.
    "With the ability to control temperature, strain and frequency over a wide
range, the RPA can simulate the conditions of all three key stages of rubber
production, then characterize the rubber's performance by measuring
viscoelastic properties," said J. Michael Hochschwender, president and chief
executive officer of Smithers.
    "Smithers is the only independent testing organization in North America
that provides this kind of rubber process analysis," said James V. Caslow,
central regional sales manager for Alpha Technologies, system supplier to
Akron, Ohio-based Smithers.
    The RPA 2000 enables process tracking from raw polymer to final product.
It measures uncured rubber process conditions, the cure reaction and cured
rubber properties on a single test specimen in a rapid test.
    "There is a large number of small-to-medium-sized rubber product
manufacturers worldwide, who up until now, have not had the opportunity to
evaluate the stock supplied to them from outside sources," Mr. Hochschwender
pointed out.  "We have the system in place to monitor the consistency and
quality of rubber compounds on an on-going basis, eliminating a fair amount of
traditional tests in the process."
    The RPA 2000 system permits much higher and faster discrimination between
polymers and compounds than is possible by conventional methods, Mr. Caslow
added.  The analyzer has a unique temperature control system, a sealed and
pressurized sample test cavity and a sensitive torque transducer.
    Smithers is a leading independent testing, research and consulting firm,
serving designers and manufacturers of rubber, tire, plastic, steel, chemical,
medical, automotive and aerospace products worldwide.