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Course: Processing & Testing of Rubber
September 15 @ 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
September 15, 2026; 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET including a tour of Akron Rubber Development Laboratory
CEUs: 0.38 (To receive the CEUs, attendees must attend the course live and promptly complete the survey evaluation after the course.)
Location: This course is in-person at Akron Rubber Development Laboratory – 75 E. Robinson Ave., Barberton, OH 44203.
This course is being held in conjunction with the Ohio Rubber Group Technical Meeting and is FREE for Ohio Rubber Group members. You can become an ORG member, learn about and purchase the Ohio Rubber Group Technical Meeting separately here: https://www.ohiorubbergroup.org/event/fall-technical-meeting-2026/
Course Overview: This half-day course will give an in-depth look at mixing, testing and vulcanizing of rubber.
Topics Covered:
- Incoming raw material inspection
- Key characteristics for certain raw materials
- Mixing rubber: rotor types, batch sizing, 1-pass vs. 2-pass, conventional vs. upside down mixing, raw materials that require special attention during mixing, common mixing and milling problems, and batch take-off.
- Testing for quality control: rheology, Mooney, durometer, unaged physical properties, specific gravity, and dispersion testing.
- Vulcanization of rubber: molding, extrusion, steam cure.
All registration fees will be used to sponsor students to attend the 2026 Global Polymer Summit in Louisville, KY.
Price: $495 Member / $595 Non-member / Free for Undergraduate Student Members / $100 for Other Student Members
*Ohio Rubber Group members receive this course for FREE.
Already a member? Ohio Rubber Group will provide you with a discount code.
Not a member? Email [email protected] to join.
Instructor: Paul Merda, ARDL
Bio: Paul Merda is the Education Coordinator & Technical Advisor at ARDL. He has previous experience as a Lab Technician, Polymer Adhesives Chemist & High School Science Teacher with 18 years in industry and 13 teaching.
About ARDL: Akron Rubber Development Laboratory, Inc. (ARDL) is an internationally recognized independent testing laboratory specializing in rubber, plastic, and latex materials. With over six decades of experience, ARDL offers comprehensive services including material testing, product development, process optimization, and failure analysis. Their state-of-the-art facilities and expert team provide solutions across various industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical, and industrial applications. ARDL is committed to advancing innovation and ensuring quality in polymer products, making them a trusted partner for companies seeking reliable and accurate testing services.