Rubber Division's Mini Expo yields new products.

This Fall 2004 edition of Rubber World's Product News features several new products introduced or highlighted at the Rubber Division's Mini Expo 2004, held last month in Columbus. The Shore S1 durometer from Wilson Instruments/Instron is described on page 6. Because of its modular cartridge system, one S1 durometer can be used in place of many durometers when testing rubber hardness. Excel Polymers introduced its high-performance elastomer compounds at the Mini Expo, including FKM, HNBR, AEM and ACM elastomers. Hydrogenated NBRs from Preferred Rubber Compounding and Sartomer's anti-reversion coagent for sulfur-cured systems were also introduced at Mini Expo 2004.

Case studies, presented on page 4, include a description of how the RCR capillary rheometer from Gottfert can be used to analyze flow behavior of rubber. Another case study describes the use of ParathermNF heat transfer fluid for the heating and cooling unit of a two-roll milling machine used by AGC Chemicals Americas to develop fluoroelastomer compounds.

News concerning natural rubber is presented on page 5, including how India's NR output is expected to rise in the near future. NR prices are expected to stay firm due to cooperation among producers in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. In other news, the Rubber Manufacturers Association predicts tire rubber shipment growth in 2004.

In every issue of the Rubber World Product News, readers will find the latest information on a wide variety of products and services for the rubber industry, including machinery and equipment, chemicals and materials, instrumentation, hardware and software, and custom services. The final pages of the Product News are dedicated to brochures, available from companies by simply noting the circle number on cards located next to the back cover.

As always, we welcome information from your company to be published in upcoming issues of the Product News. Press releases, artwork and brochures may be sent to Rubber World's offices or emailed to [e-mail]. Thank you for your loyal readership, and we hope you enjoy this latest edition.