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Course: Intermediate Rubber Compounding
June 4 @ 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
June 4, 2026; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET
CEUs: 0.76 (To receive the CEUs, attendees must attend the course live and promptly complete the survey evaluation after the course.)
Location: 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.
Course 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.
Price: $745 Members / $845 Non-members / Free for Undergraduate Student Members / $100 for Other Student Members
Instructors: Paul Merda, Nicki Hershberger and Paul Pavka, Akron Rubber Development Laboratory
Paul Merda, ARDL
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.
Nicki Hershberger
Nicki 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.
Paul Pavka
Currently: Technical Advisor / Rubber Compounder at ARDL
Previously: Technical Service at Franklin International
Education: B.S. Materials Science & Engineering, Ohio State; M.S. Polymer Science, University of Akron
Experience: Seven years in the rubber/plastics/adhesives industries; has taught college chemistry and materials science
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.