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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260625T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260625T130000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20251120T200225Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260330T194554Z
UID:2024-1782378000-1782392400@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Course: Dynamic Viscoelastic Properties
DESCRIPTION:June 25\, 2026; 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET \nCEUs: 0.38 (To receive the CEUs\, attendees must attend the course live and promptly complete the survey evaluation after the course.) \nLocation: This course is available virtually only. It can be taken from the comfort of your home or office – remotely from any tablet\, laptop or computer. \nCourse Overview: This course starts with a very brief introduction to viscoelastic theories and models but then shifts to an explanation of the viscoelastic properties of elastomers and how those properties can be measured. Attendees will learn about how tire performance can be predicted using dynamic mechanical analysis and how these testing methods can be applied to other non-tire applications as well. This course will also discuss how compounding ingredients such as the polymer\, fillers\, plasticizers and cure systems can each affect the viscoelastic properties of a rubber compound. \nPrice: $395 Members / $495 Non-members / Free for Undergraduate Student Members / $50 for Other Student Members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER. \nInstructor: Paul Merda\, ARDL\nPaul 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. \nAbout 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.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/course-dynamic-viscoelastic-properties/
CATEGORIES:Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260626T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260626T130000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260217T203414Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260619T155316Z
UID:2219-1782475200-1782478800@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Webinar Series: Polymer Fridays
DESCRIPTION:Fridays April 24 – June 26\, 2026; 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. ET \nIn this webinar series\, you will hear from several instructors who will discuss ten different groups of polymers; including details such as: \n\nHistory (when\, how\, who\, why)\nChemistry breakdown (how it works\, main linkage\, viscosities\, grade options)\nKey applications (where & why it is best used\, performance advantages)\nFuture of the polymer (new material development\, enhancements in application\, growth or demise)\n\nWebinar Series Outline: \n\nApril 24 – Introduction & Natural (NR\, IR & BR)\nMay 1 – Styrene Butadiene (SBR)\nMay 8 – Butyl (IIR\, CIIR\, BIIR)\nMay 15 – Chloroprene (CR)\nMay 22 – Ethylene Propylene Diene (EPDM)\nMay 29 – Nitrile (NBR\, HNBR\, XNBR)\nJune 5 – Fluorocarbon (FKM\, FEPM\, FFKM)\nJune 12 – Acrylic (AEM\, ACM)\nJune 19 – Silicone (VMQ\, FVMQ\, LSR)\nJune 26 – Urethane (EU\, AU)\n\nSponsoring Companies: This webinar series is sponsored by multiple companies\, in coordination with Rubber Division\, ACS and may contain a message from the sponsor. Sponsors include: Akron Rubber Development Laboratory\, DENKA Corporation\, ExxonMobil\, Lion Elastomers\, Polymer Synergies\, Smithers\, Syensqo Specialty Polymers and ZEON. Special thanks to Sam Porter and Charles Olsen Jr. for their participation. \nPrice: Free for Members / $599 Non-members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/webinar-series-polymer-fridays/
CATEGORIES:Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260630T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260630T130000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260122T145819Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260122T150246Z
UID:2195-1782810000-1782824400@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Course: Non-tire Specialty Elastomers
DESCRIPTION:June 30\, 2026; 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET \nLocation: This course is available virtually only. It can be taken from the comfort of your home or office – remotely from any tablet\, laptop or computer. \nCourse Overview: This course provides a focused overview of major elastomer families used across industrial\, automotive\, consumer and specialty applications. Participants will examine the fundamental chemistry\, performance characteristics and processing considerations that define each material\, along with the environments where they deliver the greatest value. \nCourse Content: \n\nEPDM structure\, key properties and common sealing and weathering applications\nNitrile performance in oil-resistant formulations and fuel-system environments\nSilicone rubber behavior\, thermal stability and high-purity applications\nNeoprene versatility and resistance profiles\nFluorosilicone elastomers and their use in harsh chemical and temperature conditions\nFluorocarbon elastomers with a focus on chemical resistance and high-performance sealing\n\nThis course gives participants a clear scientific foundation for selecting and applying these elastomers in real-world product design and compound development. \nPrice: $395 Members / $495 Non-members / Free for Undergraduate Student Members / $50 for Other Student Members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER.\n\nInstructor: Brad Sellers and Joshua Guilliams\, Smithers \nBios: Brad Sellers joined the Smithers consulting team in 2014. He specializes in tire and rubber product evaluations and data analysis\, focused on developing action plans and helping clients implement solutions that address their development\, quality\, and performance challenges. He has significant experience providing technical support for testing and research studies along with proven skills in failure analysis\, project planning\, patent research\, and secondary technical research. Bradley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Ohio University. \nJosh Guilliams\, Vice President of Consultancy leads\, Smithers’ technical consulting team based in Akron\, Ohio. Josh manages client relationships and works with other Smithers experts on complex projects. He also conducts in-depth investigations of a wide variety of rubber materials and final products on behalf of clients. Guilliams has a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and engineering from Baldwin Wallace University and a Master of Polymer Science from the University of Akron. He is a Six Sigma Black Belt.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/course-non-tire-specialty-elastomers/
CATEGORIES:Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260708T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260708T130000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260612T141852Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260612T142422Z
UID:2292-1783512000-1783515600@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:FREE Economic Update Webinar
DESCRIPTION:Wednesday\, July 8\, 2026; 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. ET \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER. \nGain valuable insight into the economic forces impacting our world today in this free webinar featuring Connor Lokar\, Senior Forecaster & Keynote Manager at ITR Economics. Uncertainty makes even the strongest businesses hesitate. When markets shift\, leaders need more than forecasts. They need clarity\, context\, and a plan. This session will help business leaders understand what is coming next\, how it will affect their industry\, and where to focus when conditions change. Inflation\, interest rate changes\, and margin pressures can derail pre-existing plans. Having a broad view of business cycle changes and sector-level drivers will help you identify risks and opportunities\, aligning strategy\, budgeting\, and investments with forward-looking economic insight. \nWhile many markets improved this year\, others experienced only muted growth and are at risk of hard landings in 2027. This session will delve into the key macroeconomic drivers that will take hold next year or carry over from 2026. Connor will focus especially on the top economic drivers impacting your business such as inflation\, interest rates\, labor\, and geopolitical uncertainty and their implications for overall cost structure\, workforce strategy\, the risk of profitless prosperity\, and the timing of resource allocation across an organization. \nPresenter: Connor Lokar\, Senior Forecaster & Keynote Manager\, ITR Economics \nConnor Lokar brings a strategist’s discipline to economic forecasting\, helping executives turn business-cycle intelligence into clearer decisions about growth\, profitability\, investment\, and risk. As Senior Forecaster & Keynote Manager at ITR Economics\, Connor specializes in advising businesses across industries on how to grow revenue and remain profitable through changing economic conditions. Known for delivering “practical economic intelligence with charm and candor\,” he helps leadership teams move beyond reacting to headlines and instead align strategy\, resources\, and timing with what the data is signaling. \nSince joining ITR Economics in 2014\, Connor has delivered economic keynotes\, workshops\, and webinars across North America\, earning recognition for presenting with “authority\, accuracy\, and humor” in settings ranging from executive retreats to standing-room-only keynotes. His work focuses on the decisions that matter most to business leaders: pricing\, capacity\, capital investment\, labor\, construction demand\, industrial activity\, inflation\, interest rates\, and long-term planning. Whether guiding industry leaders through next year’s outlook\, helping companies plan amid tariffs and sticky interest rates\, or translating leading indicators into strategic action\, Connor gives executives the clarity to act before the cycle changes around them. \nHe has been featured in articles from AMT Online\, NTD\, The Epoch Times\, and more. \nITR Economics: \nITR Economics has a long and proven track record of “seeing the future first\,” empowering our audiences to anticipate market shifts and prepare their strategies and tactics accordingly. ITR Economics’ forecasting expertise equips decisionmakers with the knowledge needed to navigate often-turbulent markets. By leveraging these insights\, business leaders can ensure their organizations remain resilient and thrive in the ever-changing market landscape.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/free-economic-update-webinar/
CATEGORIES:Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260723T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260723T170000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20251120T201007Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260605T173432Z
UID:2028-1784811600-1784826000@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Course: Antidegradant Chemistry\, Testing & Aging
DESCRIPTION:July 23\, 2026; 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. ET \nCEUs: 0.38 (To receive the CEUs\, attendees must attend the course and promptly complete the survey evaluation after the course.) \nLocation: This course is available virtually only. It can be taken from the comfort of your home or office – remotely from any tablet\, laptop or computer. \nCourse Overview: The course addresses antidegradant use\, chemistry\, testing and types of aging used in the rubber industry today. A review of the chemistry of oxidation\, ozonolysis and UV exposure which applies to not only rubber but many engineering materials currently in use. The types of antidegradants used in rubber will be explored in relation to the different polymers available for thermosets. Most things have a shelf-life and rubber products are no different; a discussion of the persistence of antidegradants will assist in determining a rubber article’s service life. The course will finish with some antidegradant comparisons in various rubber formulas to see how these affect properties of the rubber compounds and their aging. \nTopics covered will include: \n\nAging of polymers and the test methods used in industry\nOxidation\, Ozonolysis chemistry\nTypes of anti-degradants and their uses in polymer manufacturing\nCure systems effect on aging\n\nPrice: $395 Members / $495 Non-members / $50 for Graduate Student Members / Free for Emeritus\, Life & Undergraduate Student Members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER. \nInstructor: Paul Merda\, Akron Rubber Development Laboratory \nBio: 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. \nAbout 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.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/course-antidegradant-chemistry-testing-aging/
CATEGORIES:Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260730T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260730T120000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260612T163636Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260612T163636Z
UID:2297-1785409200-1785412800@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Forming Bonds & Leading Innovation - The Operational Challenge in Rubber
DESCRIPTION:Thursday\, July 30\, 2026; 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET \nMost rubber businesses are carrying two problems right now and underestimating both. \nWhen cash gets tight\, the lab budget is the first thing a board cuts. Pipelines fill with stalled projects\, engineering resource bleeds away\, and the regulatory pressures already landing won’t wait for a dormant lab. At the same time\, the people who hold the key relationships and the institutional knowledge are within a few years of leaving\, and the handover that used to take five years no longer fits the time anyone has. \nWebinar Format: Two back-to-back presentations put both problems on the table and show what to do about them. \n\nLeading Innovation & R&D in the Rubber Industry – Dr. Matthew Thornton\, Co-Founder of The Rubber Initiative and Secretary-General of IRCO\, on practical frameworks for running an R&D pipeline that commercializes product instead of burning cash\nForming Bonds – Michael Clayton\, Co-Founder of The Rubber Initiative\, Fractional Executive and Executive Chairman of IRCO\, on the leadership and succession gap\, and real AI applications that help technical people lead sooner and capture expert judgment before it walks out the door\n\nPractical frameworks and real AI applications you can test against your own business will be discussed. Each presentation runs around 20 minutes with time for Q&A after. \nPrice: Free for Members / $99 Non-members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER. \n 
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/webinar-forming-bonds-leading-innovation-the-operational-challenge-in-rubber/
CATEGORIES:Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260813T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260813T120000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260122T145338Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260605T183744Z
UID:2193-1786615200-1786622400@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Advanced Reinforcements & Fillers
DESCRIPTION:August 13\, 2026; 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET \nWebinar Overview: This webinar explores the science\, structure and performance impact of key reinforcement and filler systems used in rubber compounding. Participants will gain insight into how morphology\, surface chemistry and treatment technologies influence processing behavior and final material properties across a wide range of applications. \nWebinar Content: \n\nSilica morphology\, structure and performance considerations\nSilane chemistry and application methods for effective coupling\nTreatment technologies used to optimize silica interaction with rubber\nKaolin clay technology with emerging opportunities for formulation development\nTalc technology and its potential roles in property modification\nCalcium carbonate systems with evolving application possibilities\nGraphene technology and its expanding performance landscape\n\nThis webinar equips participants with a deeper understanding of reinforcement mechanisms and filler selection strategies that support innovation in compound design. \nPrice: Free for Members / $149 Non-members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER. \nInstructor: Josh Guilliams\, Vice President of Consultancy \nBio: Josh Guilliams\, Vice President of Consultancy leads\, Smithers’ technical consulting team based in Akron\, Ohio. Josh manages client relationships and works with other Smithers experts on complex projects. He also conducts in-depth investigations of a wide variety of rubber materials and final products on behalf of clients. Guilliams has a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and engineering from Baldwin Wallace University and a Master of Polymer Science from the University of Akron. He is a Six Sigma Black Belt.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/webinar-advanced-reinforcements-fillers/
CATEGORIES:Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260825T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260825T170000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260528T205226Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260605T200652Z
UID:2277-1787648400-1787677200@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Course: Sponge Rubber 101
DESCRIPTION:August 25\, 2026; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET \nCEUs: 0.66 (To receive the CEUs\, attendees must attend the course live and promptly complete the survey evaluation after the course.) \nLocation: This course is available virtually only. It can be taken from the comfort of your home or office – remotely from any tablet\, laptop or computer. \nCourse Overview: This course was developed for those who currently make flexible cellular elastomer products and wish to expand their knowledge or students wanting to gain insights into these materials and how they can be used. This course will offer an overview of cellular material’s terminology\, potential applications\, economics\, specifications\, raw materials and compound construction. Additionally\, there will be a review of the various processes used to produce cellular elastomer products\, including mixing\, various types of extrusion and molding. \nThis discussion will offer helpful tips\, the dos and the don’ts of producing cellular elastomer products that can be applied by the participants in real world applications of their own. The course will not contain content about cellular thermoplastic rubber or foamed products. The course will include opportunities for questions and answers or follow-up with the instructor. \n“The Sponge Rubber 101 course helped me gain an understanding of compounding to manufacturing of open cell elastomers for downhole tool applications. The instructor showed extensive experience and solid knowledge on this topic. I really benefitted from this course!” – Xiaohong Ren \nPrice: $745 Members / $845 Non-members / Free for Undergraduate Student Members / $100 Other Student Members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER. \nInstructor: Richard D. Strong\, President\, Elastomeric Consulting Services LLC \nBio: \nRichard Strong is currently President and CEO of Elastomeric Consulting Services. He is a 1971 graduate of the University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth where he received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and was awarded the Fred E. Busby award for outstanding work in Chemistry. \nStrong has over 50 years of experience in various aspects of rubber technology and has served as Chief Technical Officer for over 30 years of his career. His background includes raw material sourcing\, compound design\, processing and testing with organic elastomers and silicone\, including cellular rubber. He has broad expertise in process development\, documentation\, control and troubleshooting\, in addition to extensive experience in the review and analysis of test data from rubber compounds. \nStrong’s consulting business has been conducted both domestically and internationally. It includes development and presentation of educational programs for individual companies and for professional organizations\, colleges and universities. He also does hands on work with production companies to achieve improvements in their compounds and production processes. In addition\, he works with raw material suppliers to teach them how their products might be used in the rubber industry. \nIn March 2019\, his book Sponge Rubber\, An Introduction to Cellular Rubber was published by TechnoBiz as a companion reference for the course he also presents of the same name for the Rubber Division\, ACS and Akron Polymer Technical Services. He has also developed and presented two other courses\, An Introduction to Continuous Vulcanization and Rubber Extrusion Technology for these organizations. Strong developed a course on Sponge Rubber in cooperation with the University of Akron and the High Institute for Elastomer Industries to be presented in Saudi Arabia. He has recorded a four-segment video course on cellular rubber for Techno Biz. \nStrong is married (Roberta) and resides in Northeast Ohio. He has a daughter and a stepson and stepdaughter\, plus 3 grandchildren. In his spare time\, he enjoys walking\, reading\, working with his wife in their flower beds/gardens and fostering senior rescue dogs.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/course-sponge-rubber-101-2/
CATEGORIES:Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260827T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260827T170000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20251120T201629Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260605T183838Z
UID:2031-1787821200-1787850000@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Course: Thermoplastic Elastomers - From Fundamentals to Novel Applications
DESCRIPTION:August 27\, 2026; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET \nCEUs: 0.76 (To receive the CEUs\, attendees must attend the course live and promptly complete the survey evaluation after the course.) \nLocation: This course is available virtually only. It can be taken from the comfort of your home or office – remotely from any tablet\, laptop or computer. \nCourse Overview: With growing global concern regarding the increasing level of solid waste due to polymeric materials and interest in material recycling\, thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) provide an attractive alternative to conventional elastomers. This class of materials relies on combining thermoplastic and elastomeric properties into single macromolecules\, along with physical\, rather than chemical\, crosslinking to introduce elasticity. While a wide range of TPEs is commercially available\, most TPEs rely on a block copolymer in which macromolecules consist of three or more long\, contiguous sequences of dissimilar chemical species. Due to thermodynamic incompatibility between these sequences\, these molecules self-assemble into mesoscale morphologies and form a flexible molecular network that is stabilized by rigid microdomains that serve as physical crosslinks. This course will introduce participants to different types and contemporary uses of TPEs\, in addition to the molecular design\, synthesis and characteristics of TPEs derived from block copolymers. Thermodynamic considerations regarding network formation and bridging metrics in TPEs will be addressed by experimental observations\, theoretical predictions and computer simulations. Blends of TPEs and their uses in conventional and emerging applications will be described\, as will the chemical functionalization of TPEs for specialized technologies (e.g.\, designer additives\, organic photovoltaics\, soft actuators\, separation membranes and antimicrobial materials). \nLearning Objectives:\n– Distinguish and classify the different families of TPEs that are presently available\n– Identify commercial applications that benefit from the properties afforded by TPEs\n– Differentiate between physical and chemical crosslinking in terms of network formation\n– Relate network formation to microphase separation in TPEs based on block copolymers\n– Discuss the effects of molecular characteristics on structure-property relationships\n– Design TPE-containing blends with polymers for targeted morphologies and properties\n– Compare mechanical and electromechanical properties of selectively solvated TPEs\n– Modify TPEs either physically or chemically to introduce stimuli-responsiveness\n– Functionalize TPEs for use in environment-\, energy- and health-related applications\n– Choose (un)functionalized TPEs as compatibilizing agents in biphasic polymer blends \nTopical Outline:\n– Different classes of TPEs as physically-crosslinked elastomers\n– Block copolymers differing in molecular characteristics as TPEs\n– Self-assembly and network formation in block copolymer TPEs\n– Network characteristics of TPEs varying in molecular characteristics\n– Structure-property relationships of TPE-containing polymer blends\n– Selectively-solvated TPEs as an emerging class of tunably soft materials\n– Viscoelasticity and network characteristics in TPE gels for targeted applications\n– Introduction to electroactive and other stimuli-responsive TPE systems\n– Functional TPEs with photoresponsive\, separation and antimicrobial properties\n– Native/functional TPEs for toughening\, compatibilization and novel purposes \nPrice: $745 Members / $845 Non-members / Free for Undergraduate Student Members / $100 for Other Student Members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER. \nInstructor: Richard J. Spontak\, North Carolina State University \nBio: Dr. Richard J. Spontak is a Distinguished Professor and Alumni Distinguished Graduate and Undergraduate Professor in the Departments of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. He received his B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering (with honors/high distinction) from the Pennsylvania State University in 1983 and was later awarded the Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley in 1988. He then pursued post-doctoral research in Materials Science & Metallurgy at the University of Cambridge (U.K.) and Condensed Matter Physics at the Institute for Energy Technology (Norway) before joining the Corporate Research Division of the Procter & Gamble Company in 1990. In 1992\, he accepted a faculty position at North Carolina State University\, where he supervises the Macromolecular Materials & Morphology Group. Since that time\, Spontak has published over 280 peer-reviewed journal papers and over 30 scholarly works as book chapters and invited monographs\, and his work has been featured on 29 journal covers and cited over 12\,000 times according to Google Scholar. Although active in a diverse range of disciplines\, his primary research interests relate to the phase behavior and morphology/property development of nanostructured polymers\, polymer nanocomposites and coatings\, electron microscopy and stimuli-responsive soft materials. In recognition of his fundamental and applied research endeavors\, he is the recipient of numerous honors and awards such as the Alcoa Foundation Engineering Achievement and Distinguished Engineering Research Awards\, Alexander von Humboldt and Tewkesbury fellowships\, the North Carolina State University Alumni Outstanding Research and Global Engagement Awards\, the 2006 American Chemical Society (PMSE Division) Cooperative Research Award in Polymer Science & Engineering\, the 2007 German Society for Electron Microscopy Ernst Ruska Prize\, the 2008 American Chemical Society (Rubber Division) Chemistry of Thermoplastic Elastomers Award\, the 2011 Institute of Materials\, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) Colwyn Medal\, the 2012 Norwegian University of Science & Technology Lars Onsager Medal and the 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers International Award. An elected fellow of the American Physical Society\, IOM3 and the Royal Society of Chemistry\, he is or has been on the editorial advisory board of more than 20 international journals and holds editorial positions on three of them. He has been recognized as a 2007 Outstanding Scholar Alumnus and a 2012 Alumni Fellow by the Pennsylvania State University\, and he is a member of the Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences and the North Carolina State University Research Leadership\, Global Engagement and Outstanding Teaching Academies. Spontak is also a highly acclaimed educator and academic mentor. For his instructional effectiveness employing cooperative and active learning pedagogies in the classroom and his widespread efforts to promote interdisciplinary engineering design and undergraduate research\, he has received college- and alumni-level Outstanding Teaching Awards\, as well as the university-level Board of Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching\, the highest institutional honor bestowed by the University of North Carolina system. He has also received the 2006 International Network for Engineering Education & Research Recognition Award and the 2009 American Society for Engineering Education Southeast Region Outstanding Mid-Career Teaching Award\, and he has served as a Fulbright Senior Specialist and an Erasmus Fellow. He resides in Raleigh\, North Carolina\, with his wife Josie and has two children\, Danielle and Joshua.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/course-thermoplastic-elastomers-from-fundamentals-to-novel-applications/
CATEGORIES:Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260915T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260915T140000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260323T130902Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260323T130902Z
UID:2237-1789462800-1789480800@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Course: Processing & Testing of Rubber
DESCRIPTION:September 15\, 2026; 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET including a tour of Akron Rubber Development Laboratory \nCEUs: 0.38 (To receive the CEUs\, attendees must attend the course live and promptly complete the survey evaluation after the course.) \nLocation:  This course is in-person at Akron Rubber Development Laboratory – 75 E. Robinson Ave.\, Barberton\, OH 44203. \nThis 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/ \nCourse Overview: This half-day course will give an in-depth look at mixing\, testing and vulcanizing of rubber. \nTopics Covered: \n\nIncoming raw material inspection\nKey characteristics for certain raw materials\nMixing 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.\nTesting for quality control: rheology\, Mooney\, durometer\, unaged physical properties\, specific gravity\, and dispersion testing.\nVulcanization of rubber: molding\, extrusion\, steam cure.\n\nAll registration fees will be used to sponsor students to attend the 2026 Global Polymer Summit in Louisville\, KY. \nPrice: $495 Member / $595 Non-member / Free for Undergraduate Student Members / $100 for Other Student Members\n*Ohio Rubber Group members receive this course for FREE. \nAlready a member? Ohio Rubber Group will provide you with a discount code.  \nNot a member? Email hmaimone@rubber.org to join. \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER. \nInstructor: Paul Merda\, ARDL \nBio: 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. \nAbout 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.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/course-processing-testing-of-rubber/
LOCATION:Akron Rubber Development Laboratory\, 75 E. Robinson Ave.\, Barberton\, OH\, 44203\, United States
CATEGORIES:Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260929
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261001
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260604T204721Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260604T204721Z
UID:2290-1790640000-1790812799@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:GPS 2026 - Educational Symposium
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday\, Sept. 29 & Wednesday\, Sept. 30 \nTake a deep dive into some valuable topics with these courses taking place during our Global Polymer Summit in Louisville\, Kentucky:\n► Adhesion Science & Polyurethane Adhesives\n► Compounding Fluoroelastomers\n► Developing a Rubber Molding Process\n► Developments in Tire Materials Science &\nEngineering\n► Essential Rubber Testing: What The Data Tells You\n► Foundations of Elastomer Technology\n► Introduction to Elastomer Durability\n► Non-tire Specialty Elastomers\n► Rubber Extrusion Technology\n► Rubber Vulcanization & Curing Chemistry\n► Silicone Rubber Foundations\n► The Rubber Initiative® – Next-Generation\nExecutive Leadership \nThe GPS Educational Symposium is sponsored by Parker Lord. \nCLICK HERE FOR COURSE DETAILS.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/gps-2026-educational-symposium/
CATEGORIES:Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261008T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261008T120000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260602T185708Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260602T190841Z
UID:2282-1791457200-1791460800@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Optimizing Rubber Molding Process through Advanced Simulations
DESCRIPTION:Webinar Description: In this webinar\, attendees will learn how simulating the behavior of rubber\, silicones and LSRs during injection\, transfer and compression molding process can help understand the root cause of various molding issues like imbalances\, air\, uneven curing\, flashing\, etc. Continuous improvements in part design\, mold design and molding process are essential for maintaining a competitive edge in the ever-expanding rubber molding market. By using advanced CAE simulation technologies\, design phases can be shortened\, molding process can be predicted and molded parts can be optimized. \nObjectives & What Will Be Covered: \n\nUse of simulation of rubber materials to accurately predict flow behavior and shear-induced heating effects\nNew fully automatic BLM (Boundary Layer Mesh) technology used to create accurate mesh density in required areas\nLearn how high shear rates in thin film or pin gates and thin wall thicknesses can cause shear-induced heat which influences viscosity\, flow behavior and flow-induced premature scorch and cure effects.\n\nIn this webinar\, several real-life production examples will demonstrate how advanced mesh technologies can be used to better predict shear-induced material flow behavior though the transfer molding process. In addition\, how the shot size and process condition will affect flow length and vent location will be presented. \nPrice: Free for Members / $99 Non-members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER. \nInstructor: Harshal Bhogesra\, Moldex3D \nBio: Harshal Bhogesra has over 9 years of combined experience in molding and customer and supplier development. He is passionate about optimizing product design\, tool development\, molding processes and quality. Harshal is currently working with rubber\, LSR\, silicone and plastic molding companies to help them eliminate their complex molding challenges like air entrapment\, filling imbalances\, knit lines\, uneven curing\, shrinkage\, etc. \nThrough Moldex3D technology\, he has helped clients reduce engineering time and cost in various industries including defense\, automotive\, medical\, aerospace\, electronics\, consumer products\, etc. who are concerned by the trial and errors on the production floor. \nOutside of work\, he enjoys traveling\, interior designing\, NFL\, and adventure sports. \nAbout Moldex3D: Moldex3D is the world-leading CAE simulation platform for injection molding that enables engineers to virtually simulate flow\, curing\, cooling\, and complex material behavior in 3D. It helps identify molding defects\, optimize gate and mold design\, reduce trial-and-error and shorten development cycles. With support for plastics\, silicones\, LSR\, and elastomers\, Moldex3D bridges design and production to deliver higher quality parts faster.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/webinar-optimizing-rubber-molding-process-through-advanced-simulations-2/
CATEGORIES:Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261014T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261014T160000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20251117T205808Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260605T173519Z
UID:2014-1791979200-1791993600@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Course: Carbon Blacks Manufacturing\, Properties & Applications in Rubber Compounds
DESCRIPTION:October 14\, 2026; 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET \nCEUs: 0.38 (To receive the CEUs\, attendees must attend the course live and promptly complete the survey evaluation after the course.) \nLocation: This course is available online only. It can be taken from the comfort of your home or office – remotely from any tablet\, laptop or computer. \nCourse Overview: Centered around carbon black\, this course was designed to be advantageous for both technical and non-technical personnel working in the rubber industry. These topics will be covered: \n\nCB types and the related manufacturing processes\nPresent status of the global CB industry\, CB classification\, grades and standards\nCB morphology\, characteristics and their effects on properties of rubber compounds\nSelection of CB for various rubber processes\, as extrusion\, molding\, etc.\nCompounding with CB to rationalize raw materials\, minimize costs and optimize final properties of rubber goods\nEnvironmental effects of CB applications and recovered CB\n\nPrice: $395 Members / $495 Non-members / Free for Undergraduate Student Members / $50 for Other Student Members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER. \nInstructor: Dr. Irene Yurovska \nIrene Yurovska was born and raised in Moscow\, Russia. After completing her BS in Chemistry\, MS in Chemical Engineering (Rubber Technology) and PhD in Physical Chemistry of Polymers\, she worked as a scientist for the Rubber Industry Institute and for the Institute of Aircraft Technology in Moscow. \nIrene moved with her family to the US in 1991. For ten years\, she lived in Rhode Island\, working as a plant rubber chemist for Teknor Apex and completing her MBA in Bryant University. Irene moved to Massachusetts to be employed for 14 years as a scientist\, technical service and applications specialist by Cabot Corporation in Billerica\, MA. In 2016-2017\, Dr. Yurovska worked as a Global Innovation Market Development Manager for Addivant Corporation (now SI Group) in CT. \nCurrently\, after completing the long and successful career as a global rubber industry professional; having hands-on experience with rubber compounding\, processing and technical service\, and with carbon black and antioxidants manufacturing and properties\, Dr. Irene Yurovska lives in TX\, recently being employed in India as VP of Himadri Specialty Chemicals (technical service in carbon black for rubbers) and currently developing a private consulting business for the global rubber industry. \nHer scientific interests include relationships between individual characteristics of ingredients and application properties of rubber products. Dr. Yurovska is the author and co-author of several patents and numerous articles in peer-reviewed and industrial publications. \nDr. Yurovska is an active member of the US rubber industry community\, being on several Rubber Division\, ACS committees\, she served as a Chair of the New England Rubber and Plastics Group and she is on the Board of NERPG and is also a member of the Energy Polymer Group. \nIrene has two children and one grandchild. She enjoys spending time with her family\, world travel\, swimming\, and classic opera.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/course-carbon-blacks-manufacturing-properties-applications-in-rubber-compounds/
CATEGORIES:Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261015T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261015T120000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260602T185850Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260602T190903Z
UID:2283-1792058400-1792065600@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Basics of Polymer Testing & Processing
DESCRIPTION:October 15\, 2026; 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET \nWebinar Overview: This webinar is designed to be an introduction to the rubber industry for employees who have very little or no understanding of how rubber or plastic parts are manufactured and tested. It introduces some basic terminology used in the rubber and plastic industries. Several types of testing will be introduced\, and practical examples will be shared to illustrate why parts/products are tested. Lastly\, this webinar provides an overview of the rubber mixing process\, as well as a few processing and curing methods commonly used in this industry. \nThis webinar will give new employees a big picture view of the different departments within ARDL\, will illustrate how those departments work together in the big picture of the rubber industry and will emphasize why each aspect of our company is so important to rubber and plastic products that we use every day. \nPrice: Free for Members / $149 Non-members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER. \nInstructor: Paul Merda\, ARDL\nPaul 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. \nAbout 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.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/webinar-basics-of-polymer-testing-processing/
CATEGORIES:Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261020T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261020T120000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260615T124743Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260615T162848Z
UID:2299-1792490400-1792497600@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Gear Pump Technology in Rubber Applications
DESCRIPTION:Webinar: Gear Pump Technology in Rubber Applications \nOctober 20\, 2026; 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET \nWebinar Overview: This webinar focuses on the benefit of gear pump extruders for rubber processing and their specific characteristics. A gear pump\, due to its volumetric transport characteristics\, is predestined for applications such as precise extrusion and high-pressure operations\, as well as precise dosing applications. By combining different extruder technologies with a gear pump\, it becomes a modular system for different applications in rubber processing.  \nWebinar Objectives: This webinar focuses on the gear pump technology in well-known rubber processes in mixing and extrusion lines and it will include the following topics: \n\nIntroduction and history\nFunction principal basics of gear pumps\nProcess technological basics\nWaste reduction and quality improvement\n\nStraining within the straining cell\nStraining within the mixing line\nStraining within the extrusion line\nStraining within the rework line\n\n\nGear pump technology for precise extrusion\n\nRubber extrusion lines\nHigh pressure applications for wire\, fiber and yarn\n\n\nGear pump technology in continuous mixing (dosing)\nGear pump technology in silicone compounding\nFuture applications and outlook\nSummary\n\nWho Should Take This Webinar: The webinar is designed for mechanical and chemical engineers in the rubber industry. Centered around process techniques in mixing and extrusion\, it is the perfect training for individuals working in engineering\, R&D or quality improvement. \nPrice: Free for Members / $149 Non-members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER. \nInstructor: Julia Uth (M.Eng.)\, UTH \nBio: Julia Uth is the Head of Design and R&D at UTH GmbH (Germany)\, a company which is highly specialized in gear pump technology and fine mesh straining applications\, and which can be seen as an example of innovative technology “made in Germany.” She is a mechanical engineer specialized in rubber and plastic processing. After completing her master’s degree in engineering\, Julia joined UTH GmbH. She is highly committed to the development of cutting-edge gear pump solutions for the processing of rubber and silicone. \nAbout UTH GmbH: UTH GmbH is a global leader in gear pump technology and fine mesh straining systems for rubber and silicone processing. Known for precision\, reliability and innovative engineering\, UTH develops equipment that improves extrusion accuracy\, reduces waste and enhances material quality across mixing and compounding lines. Their modular solutions support high-pressure\, high-performance applications and are trusted worldwide for advancing efficiency in modern rubber production.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/webinar-gear-pump-technology-in-rubber-application/
CATEGORIES:Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261028T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261028T170000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260528T205449Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260528T210428Z
UID:2278-1793178000-1793206800@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Course: An Introduction to Continuous Vulcanization
DESCRIPTION:October 28\, 2026; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET \nCEUs: 0.66 (To receive the CEUs\, attendees must attend the course live and promptly complete the survey evaluation after the course.) \nLocation: This course is available virtually only. It can be taken from the comfort of your home or office – remotely from any tablet\, laptop or computer. \nCourse Overview: This course was developed for rubber industry employees who currently use Continuous Vulcanization (CV) processes and wish to expand their knowledge or those who wish to gain insights into these processes and how they can be used. \nThis course will offer an overview of the variety of commercially viable Continuous Vulcanization processes and their strengths and weaknesses. Following that\, it will take the participants into a more in-depth study of the three most common forms of CV\, Liquid Curing Media (LCM)\, better known as the Salt Bath process\, Hot Air Vulcanization (HAV) and Microwave/Hot Air Vulcanization. The emphasis will be on practical knowledge that can be utilized in production along with safety concerns that always need to be addressed. \nWe will begin by looking at the common elements to all three processes\, namely the extruder and its auxiliary components\, plus downstream equipment for cooling and pulling. The course then will look at each of the three CV processes individually\, giving useful ideas for process improvements that the participants can apply in their own manufacturing. The course will conclude with a brief look at rubber compound development for these CV processes and will conclude with a question and answer session. \nPrice: $745 Members / $845 Non-members / Free for Undergraduate Student Members / $100 Other Student Members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER. \nInstructor: Richard D. Strong\, President\, Elastomeric Consulting Services LLC \nBio: \nRichard Strong is currently President and CEO of Elastomeric Consulting Services. He is a 1971 graduate of the University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth where he received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and was awarded the Fred E. Busby award for outstanding work in Chemistry. \nStrong has over 50 years of experience in various aspects of rubber technology and has served as Chief Technical Officer for over 30 years of his career. His background includes raw material sourcing\, compound design\, processing and testing with organic elastomers and silicone\, including cellular rubber. He has broad expertise in process development\, documentation\, control and troubleshooting\, in addition to extensive experience in the review and analysis of test data from rubber compounds. \nStrong’s consulting business has been conducted both domestically and internationally. It includes development and presentation of educational programs for individual companies and for professional organizations\, colleges and universities. He also does hands on work with production companies to achieve improvements in their compounds and production processes. In addition\, he works with raw material suppliers to teach them how their products might be used in the rubber industry. \nIn March 2019\, his book Sponge Rubber\, An Introduction to Cellular Rubber was published by TechnoBiz as a companion reference for the course he also presents of the same name for the Rubber Division\, ACS and Akron Polymer Technical Services. He has also developed and presented two other courses\, An Introduction to Continuous Vulcanization and Rubber Extrusion Technology for these organizations. Strong developed a course on Sponge Rubber in cooperation with the University of Akron and the High Institute for Elastomer Industries to be presented in Saudi Arabia. He has recorded a four-segment video course on cellular rubber for Techno Biz. \nStrong is married (Roberta) and resides in Northeast Ohio. He has a daughter and a stepson and stepdaughter\, plus 3 grandchildren. In his spare time\, he enjoys walking\, reading\, working with his wife in their flower beds/gardens and fostering senior rescue dogs.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/course-an-introduction-to-continuous-vulcanization/
CATEGORIES:Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261105T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261105T150000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260211T204303Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260211T204303Z
UID:2212-1793883600-1793890800@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Rubber Industry Supply Chains
DESCRIPTION:Thursday\, November 5\, 2026; 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. ET \nWebinar Overview: Traditionally\, rubber industry supply chain actions are conducted by purchasing\, whereas RD\, engineering and customer service functions do not participate.  Meanwhile\, modern complexity of the rubber industry and its entangled global supply chains make our products vulnerable to the current volatility of political situations and economics. Disruptions of supply chains reverberate all the way down to rubber manufacturing and to customers\, and it could bring major national industries to standstill. \nWebinar Objective: The objective of this course is to promote awareness of supply chains effects on rubber processes\, quality of products and final costs. Based on her personal experience as a chemist\, plant engineer\, manager and global consultant working for the rubber industry and in academia in the USA\, Europe and Asia\, the instructor will review risks and pathways to ensure supply chains resilience\, manufacturing flexibility and cost control. \nWebinar Content: \n\nSupply chains components and functions\nSignificance of rubber products for the national economy\nRubber industry raw materials: types\, functions and sources\nSupply chain management:\n\nRisk management\nRaw materials multi-sourcing\nInventories resilience\nManagement of change: objectives\, layout and costs\n\n\n\nTo achieve production cost efficiency and rubber product quality\, the supply chain management team must include purchasing\, engineering and technical departments of committed and educated professionals. \nWho should attend:  Purchasing agents\, chemists\, product and process engineers\, quality professionals and managers will find this course useful. Participation of teams\, including purchasing\, engineering\, chemical\, processing\, quality and marketing/sales functions is encouraged. \nPrice: Free for Members / $149 Non-members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER. \nInstructor: Dr. Irene Yurovska \nIrene Yurovska was born and raised in Moscow\, Russia. After completing her BS in Chemistry\, MS in Chemical Engineering (Rubber Technology) and PhD in Physical Chemistry of Polymers\, she worked as a scientist for the Rubber Industry Institute and for the Institute of Aircraft Technology in Moscow. \nIrene moved with her family to the US in 1991. For ten years\, she lived in Rhode Island\, working as a plant rubber chemist for Teknor Apex and completing her MBA in Bryant University. Irene moved to Massachusetts to be employed for 14 years as a scientist\, technical service and applications specialist by Cabot Corporation in Billerica\, MA. In 2016-2017\, Dr. Yurovska worked as a Global Innovation Market Development Manager for Addivant Corporation (now SI Group) in CT. \nCurrently\, after completing the long and successful career as a global rubber industry professional; having hands-on experience with rubber compounding\, processing and technical service\, and with carbon black and antioxidants manufacturing and properties\, Dr. Irene Yurovska lives in TX\, recently being employed in India as VP of Himadri Specialty Chemicals (technical service in carbon black for rubbers) and currently developing a private consulting business for the global rubber industry. \nHer scientific interests include relationships between individual characteristics of ingredients and application properties of rubber products. Dr. Yurovska is the author and co-author of several patents and numerous articles in peer-reviewed and industrial publications. \nDr. Yurovska is an active member of the US rubber industry community\, being on several Rubber Division\, ACS committees\, she served as a Chair of the New England Rubber and Plastics Group and she is on the Board of NERPG and is also a member of the Energy Polymer Group. \nIrene has two children and one grandchild. She enjoys spending time with her family\, world travel\, swimming\, and classic opera.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/webinar-rubber-industry-supply-chains/
CATEGORIES:Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261112T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261112T160000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260613T124210Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260613T124210Z
UID:2298-1794474000-1794499200@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Course: Introduction to Compounding\, Mixing & Testing
DESCRIPTION:November 12\, 2026; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. ET \nCEUs: 0.76 (To receive the CEUs\, attendees must attend the course live and promptly complete the survey evaluation after the course.) \nLocation: This course is available virtually only. It can be taken from the comfort of your home or office – remotely from any tablet\, laptop or computer. \nCourse Overview: This course provides a practical overview of elastomer compounding and processing. Topics include elastomers\, fillers\, oils and plasticizers and curing agents. Participants will also explore the mixing\, processing and testing of elastomer compounds along with key considerations when selecting an elastomer for a specific application. \nThe mixing portion of the course covers several important topics related to internal mixers and the parameters that influence rubber mixing. The course begins with a brief history of mixing equipment including both mill mixers and internal mixers along with the different procedures used in each mixing process. Participants will also review the various methods used to process mixed compounds into finished parts. \nThe course concludes with real world examples of common problems encountered in rubber compounding and mixing. These case studies will examine what caused the issues and how they were successfully resolved in the field. \nLearning Objectives \n\nGain an overview of the practical aspects of elastomer compounding\n• Learn key considerations when selecting elastomers for specific applications\n• Understand the fundamentals of rubber mixing equipment and mixing parameters\n• Explore processing methods used to convert compounds into finished parts\n• Engage in discussion and one on one dialogue beyond general class content\n• Leverage the experience of instructors and fellow participants as a technical resource\n• Receive references and contacts for future technical questions and continued learning\n\nPrice: $695 Member / $795 Non-member / Free for Undergraduate Student Members / $100 for Other Student Members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER. \nInstructor: William Stahl \nBio: William Stahl retired in March of 2023 after 45 years in the rubber industry. His main focus was in the compounding and applications for fluoroelastomer polymers. He has taught several courses for Rubber Division\, ACS. He is currently a consultant for WMS Technologies\, LLC (Norton\, Ohio).
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/course-introduction-to-compounding-mixing-testing-2/
CATEGORIES:Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261113T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261113T170000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260618T154636Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260618T154654Z
UID:2302-1794560400-1794589200@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Course: Intermediate Rubber Compounding
DESCRIPTION:November 13\, 2026; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET \nCEUs: 0.76 (To receive the CEUs\, attendees must attend the course live and promptly complete the survey evaluation after the course.) \nLocation: This course is available virtually only and can be taken from the comfort of your home or office – remotely from any tablet\, laptop or computer. \nCourse Overview: This course is an overview of rubber compounding and testing. Compounding subjects include elastomers\, fillers/reinforcement\, plasticizers/process aids\, anti-degradants and cure systems. Testing laboratory subjects will include process testing\, physical properties testing\, dynamic properties testing and aging. Processing subjects will include mixing\, milling\, molding\, extrusion and calendaring. This course could be useful for chemists\, engineers and technical sales staff who may be relatively new to the rubber industry and want a better understanding of how different ingredients affect a rubber compound. \nPrice: $745 Members / $845 Non-members / Free for Undergraduate Student Members / $100 for Other Student Members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER.  \nInstructors: Paul Merda\, Nicki Hershberger and Paul Pavka\, Akron Rubber Development Laboratory \nPaul Merda\nPaul 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. \nNicki Hershberger\nNicki Hershberger is the Vice President Technical & Sales at Akron Rubber Development Laboratory (ARDL). She has been in the rubber industry for around 25 years and has experience working in custom mixing and compound development for extrusion\, molding\, and autoclaved applications. In Nicki’s current role\, she works with customers on challenging compound development projects\, helps them evaluate new materials in various rubber applications\, and also manages ARDL’s technical advisor/compound development group. \nPaul Pavka\nCurrently: Technical Advisor / Rubber Compounder at ARDL\nPreviously: Technical Service at Franklin International\nEducation: B.S. Materials Science & Engineering\, Ohio State; M.S. Polymer Science\, University of Akron\nExperience: Seven years in the rubber/plastics/adhesives industries; has taught college chemistry and materials science \nAbout 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. \n  \n 
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/course-intermediate-rubber-compounding-2/
CATEGORIES:Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261118T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261118T120000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260602T190254Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260602T190950Z
UID:2285-1794999600-1795003200@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: U.S. Regulatory Compliance in the Rubber Industry
DESCRIPTION:November 18\, 2026; 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET \n  \nWebinar Overview: This webinar is designed for professionals who are responsible for understanding\, implementing or supporting regulatory compliance within the U.S. rubber industry. It is well suited for managers\, engineers\, chemists\, quality professionals\, EHS staff and others who need a practical working knowledge of U.S. regulations that impact rubber materials\, compounds and finished products. \nThe webinar provides a structured overview of key federal and state regulatory requirements that rubber manufacturers are expected to understand and\, where applicable\, certify compliance against. Emphasis will be placed on how these regulations apply in real manufacturing and product stewardship contexts\, including customer inquiries\, audits\, documentation and internal decision making. Both technical and nontechnical attendees will benefit from the clear explanations and practical framing of each topic. \nTopics Covered: \n\nToxic Substances Control Act TSCA\nFood contact regulations\nGlobally Harmonized System GHS\nTransportation requirements\nConflict minerals\nSARA Title III\nCalifornia Proposition 65\nState right to know laws\nPFAS\n\nPrice: Free for Members / $99 Non-members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER. \nInstructor: Denise Kotz\, Strategic Realm Consulting\, LLC \nBio: Denise Kotz is founder and principal consultant at Strategic Realm Consulting\, LLC\, a consulting company providing guidance in product regulatory and product stewardship. She is a subject matter expert (SME) on a wide range of global product regulatory requirements and product stewardship processes / management systems. She uses a risk-based approach to regulatory compliance with team collaboration\, customer focus\, and strong attention to detail. \nDenise worked for DuPont for 31 years. She started as Technical Services and Development Engineer\, supporting the Elastomers businesses. During this time\, she was active with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)\, and in 2001 received the Distinguished Service Award. She later moved into various product regulatory and product stewardship roles\, supporting all the DuPont businesses globally. In these roles\, she implemented Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals in all regions for over 10K products and streamlined global HazCom processes through risk-based approaches. Denise coordinated and streamlined the processes for product stewardship reviews for the Polymers business. She acted as SME for regulations\, such as REACH\, RoHS\, IMDS\, Conflict Minerals\, food contact\, global chemical inventories\, and customer regulatory lists\, providing daily advice to internal and external customers. \nDenise has a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from The University of Akron. She also has a Green Belt Certification in Six Sigma. Denise is active with the Ohio Rubber Group and serves as the Executive Manager and Web Master. She also serves as Treasurer for Akron Council of Engineering and Scientific Societies (ACESS).  Denise is also a member of Rubber Division\, ACS and the Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (SCHC). \nDenise is married with two grown sons. Her hobbies include reading\, golf and bowling. She also enjoys spoiling her dog Lily and cat Linus\, both rescues.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/webinar-u-s-regulatory-compliance-in-the-rubber-industry/
CATEGORIES:Training
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261119T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261119T170000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260528T210236Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260528T210236Z
UID:2279-1795078800-1795107600@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Course: Rubber Extrusion Technology
DESCRIPTION:November 19\, 2026; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET \nCEUs: 0.76 (To receive the CEUs\, attendees must attend the course live and promptly complete the survey evaluation after the course.) \nLocation: This course is available virtually only and can be taken from the comfort of your home or office – remotely from any tablet\, laptop or computer. \nDescription: This course was designed for rubber industry employees who currently extrude rubber and wish to expand their knowledge of the process or those wishing to gain insights into these processes and how they can be used. \nOverview: The course will offer an overview of the variety of commercially viable rubber extrusion processes and examine their strengths and weaknesses. Next\, we will go into a more in-depth look at the three most common rubber extrusion processes i.e. Liquid Curing Media (LCM)\, better known as the Salt Bath process\, Hot Air Vulcanization (HAV) and Microwave/Hot Air Vulcanization. The emphasis will be on practical knowledge that can be utilized in production. In all areas\, specific safety concerns will be highlighted and addressed. \nFirst\, the common elements to all extrusion processes\, namely the extruder and its components\, plus dies and other tooling will be reviewed. The course then will look at each of the three most common and important extrusion processes in more depth\, giving useful ideas for process improvements that the participants can apply in their own manufacturing. The course will conclude with a brief look at rubber compound development for the extrusion processes emphasizing important compound design features. \nPrice: $745 Members / $845 Non-members / Free for Undergraduate Student Members / $100 Other Student Members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER. \nInstructor: Richard D. Strong\, President\, Elastomeric Consulting Services LLC \nBio: Richard Strong is currently President and CEO of Elastomeric Consulting Services. He is a 1971 graduate of the University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth where he received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and was awarded the Fred E. Busby award for outstanding work in Chemistry. \nStrong has over 50 years of experience in various aspects of rubber technology and has served as Chief Technical Officer for over 30 years of his career. His background includes raw material sourcing\, compound design\, processing and testing with organic elastomers and silicone\, including cellular rubber. He has broad expertise in process development\, documentation\, control and troubleshooting\, in addition to extensive experience in the review and analysis of test data from rubber compounds. \nStrong’s consulting business has been conducted both domestically and internationally. It includes development and presentation of educational programs for individual companies and for professional organizations\, colleges and universities. He also does hands on work with production companies to achieve improvements in their compounds and production processes. In addition\, he works with raw material suppliers to teach them how their products might be used in the rubber industry. \nIn March 2019\, his book Sponge Rubber\, An Introduction to Cellular Rubber was published by TechnoBiz as a companion reference for the course he also presents of the same name for the Rubber Division\, ACS and Akron Polymer Technical Services. He has also developed and presented two other courses\, An Introduction to Continuous Vulcanization and Rubber Extrusion Technology for these organizations. Strong developed a course on Sponge Rubber in cooperation with the University of Akron and the High Institute for Elastomer Industries to be presented in Saudi Arabia. He has recorded a four-segment video course on cellular rubber for Techno Biz. \nStrong is married (Roberta) and resides in Northeast Ohio. He has a daughter and a stepson and stepdaughter\, plus 3 grandchildren. In his spare time\, he enjoys walking\, reading\, working with his wife in their flower beds/gardens and fostering senior rescue dogs.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/course-rubber-extrusion-technology/
CATEGORIES:Training
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261203T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261203T120000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260602T190446Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260602T191015Z
UID:2286-1796292000-1796299200@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: The Fatigue Limit of Rubber
DESCRIPTION:December 3\, 2026; 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET  \nWebinar Description: This two-hour webinar will introduce industry professionals to the concept of fatigue threshold in elastomers and how to use this material parameter to develop highly durable rubber products. A technical background is recommended. This webinar will cover: \nGeneral fatigue crack growth behavior of elastomers\n– Power law response\n– Tear strength\n– Fatigue threshold (limit) / intrinsic strength \nHow to measure fatigue limit\n– Lengthy fatigue crack growth measurements\n– Tear strength of swollen samples or at high temperature\n– Cutting method \nInsights into developing a product to operate below the fatigue limit\n– Interplay of part geometry\, loading conditions\, and material properties\n– Importance of crack precursor size\, as influenced by raw materials selection and mixing quality \nPrice: Free for Members / $149 Non-members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER. \nInstructor: Dr. Tom Ebbott\, Endurica LLC \nBio: Tom received his PhD from the University of Wisconsin with a research topic of fracture and crack growth in polymers. He is a tire industry veteran known for his leadership in driving advances in modeling\, simulation and workflows across a global organization.  He joined Endurica in 2022 after a 35-year career at Goodyear. While at Goodyear\, he held various technical and leadership positions with experience in product development\, technology development\, modeling and simulation\, and materials characterization. He was a major contributor to multiple technical partnerships. He also enjoyed a two-year assignment at Goodyear’s technical center in Luxembourg as the Manager of Computational Mechanics. He has published many technical papers and received numerous awards for his technical achievements.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/webinar-the-fatigue-limit-of-rubber/
CATEGORIES:Training
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261210T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261210T120000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260602T190106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260612T174629Z
UID:2284-1796896800-1796904000@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Case Studies in Failure Analysis
DESCRIPTION:December 10\, 2026; 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET \nWebinar Overview: This webinar will discuss reasons items fail such as misapplication\, lack of maintenance\, manufacturing or design defects\, etc. Also to be discussed is how to apply the scientific method during failure analysis and a few real-world examples will be used to demonstrate the principles that are presented. \nPrice: Free for Members / $149 Non-members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER. \nInstructor: Paul Merda\, ARDL\nPaul 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. \nAbout 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.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/webinar-case-studies-in-failure-analysis/
CATEGORIES:Training
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20270113T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20270113T120000
DTSTAMP:20260621T085641
CREATED:20260602T185351Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260602T191033Z
UID:2281-1799834400-1799841600@www.rubber.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Strength & Endurance in Rubber
DESCRIPTION:January 13\, 2027; 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET \nWebinar Description: This webinar is designed for industry professionals wanting an “on-ramp” to the vast subject of managing the strength and durability of elastomeric materials and products. A technical background is helpful but not required. This course will cover: \nWhat does failure really cost? \nFactors that limit rubber’s strength and endurance:\n– molecular and mesoscale origins\n– energy principles governing crack growth\n– special effects: strain crystallization\, rate and temperature dependence\, ageing \nWhat can be done to avoid failure?\n– experimental methods: crack growth\, crack nucleation\, ageing\n– analysis methods for understanding real-world durability: FEA\, multi-channel load inputs\, block cycle schedules\, lengthy load signals\n– design strategies \nPrice: Free for Members / $149 Non-members \nCLICK HERE TO REGISTER.  \nInstructor: Dr. William V. Mars\, P.E.\, President of Endurica LLC \nBio: Dr. Will Mars is an international leader in the failure mechanics of rubber. He founded Endurica LLC in 2008 and\, as president\, leads the firms’ software\, testing\, consulting\, and training services. Dr. Mars is the author of the Endurica fatigue life solver\, the world’s most accurate\, complete and scalable fatigue life simulation system for elastomers. His career focuses on applying experimental and computational mechanics in pursuit of better-performing rubber products. He has established several industry best practices during his three decades of experience in the rubber industry. Dr. Mars earned his Honors BSME with Polymer Specialization at the University of Akron\, and his MS and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Toledo. He has received several awards for his scientific contributions and innovations including the 2022 Herzlich Medal for outstanding impact and innovation in the tire industry\, the 2020 Tibbett’s Award from the Small Business Administration of the United States for excellence in commercialization of cutting-edge technologies\, the 2017 Rubber Division\, ACS Arnold Smith Special Service Award\, the 2007 Sparks Thomas Award of Rubber Division\, ACS and the 1999 Henry Fuchs Award of the SAE Fatigue Design & Evaluation committee. Dr. Mars served as the chief editor of Rubber Chemistry and Technology for 10 years and is a former editor of Tire Science and Technology as well. He has over 60 peer-reviewed scientific publications and four patents in the area of elastomer durability.
URL:https://www.rubber.org/event/webinar-strength-endurance-in-rubber/
CATEGORIES:Training
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