Designation: D 5289 – 95 (Reapproved 2001)

Standard Test Method for

Rubber Property—Vulcanization Using Rotorless Cure
Meters1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5289; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope dies to sense the torque or stress during strain application.

1.1 This test method specifies a method for the measure- Rotorless cure meters do not have a third member in the form
ment of selected vulcanization characteristics of rubber com- of a rotor (see definitions of cure meter in Test Methods D 1556
pounds using rotorless linear shear, unsealed torsion shear, and and D 2084).
sealed torsion shear cure meters. The three types of instruments 3.1.2 torque—for an oscillating shear cure meter, the value
may not give the same results. measured by a torque transducer at the peak strain amplitude of
the oscillating cycle.
NOTE 1—An alternative method for the measurement of vulcanization 3.1.3 The following measurements may be taken from the
characteristics is given in Test Method D 2084.
recorded curve of force or torque as a function of time (see Fig.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the 1).
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information 3.1.3.1 minimum force or torque—measure of the stiffness
only. of the unvulcanized test specimen at the specified vulcanizing
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the temperature, taken at the lowest point in the vulcanization
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the curve.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 3.1.3.2 maximum, plateau, or highest force or torque—
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- measure of the stiffness or shear modulus of the vulcanized test
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. specimen at the vulcanization temperature, measured within a
specified period of time.
2. Referenced Documents 3.1.3.3 time to incipient cure (scorch time)—measure of the
2.1 ASTM Standards: time at which a specified small increase in force or torque has
D 1349 Practice for Rubber—Standard Temperatures for occurred; it indicates the beginning of vulcanization.
Testing2 3.1.3.4 time to a percentage of full cure—measure of cure
D 1556 Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in based on the time to develop some percentage of the difference
Place by the Sand-Cone Method3 in force or torque from the minimum to the maximum.
D 2084 Test Method for Rubber Property—Vulcanization
Using Oscillating Disk Cure Meter2 4. Summary of Test Method
D 4483 Practice for Determining Precision for Test Method 4.1 A rubber test piece is contained in a die cavity which
Standards in the Rubber and Carbon Black Industries2 may be closed or almost closed and maintained at an elevated
2.2 ISO Standard:4 temperature. The cavity is formed by two dies, one of which is
ISO 6502 Rubber—Measurement of Vulcanization Charac- oscillated through a small linear or rotary amplitude. This
teristics with Rotorless Curemeters action produces a sinusoidal alternating linear or torsional
strain in the test piece and a sinusoidal shear force or torque
3. Terminology which depends on the stiffness (shear modulus) of the rubber
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: compound. The envelope curve, which is defined as the
3.1.1 rotorless cure meter—a name for a class of cure amplitude of the oscillating force or torque, is continuously
meters that uses one of the two specimen shaping members or recorded as a function of time (see Fig. 2).
4.2 The stiffness of the rubber test piece increases as
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D11 on Rubber vulcanization proceeds. The test is completed when the re-
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D11.12 on Processability Tests. corded force or torque rises to either an equilibrium or
Current edition approved Sept. 10, 1995. Published November 1995. Originally maximum value, or when a predetermined time has elapsed
published as D 5289 – 92. Last previous edition D 5289 – 93a.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 09.01. (see Fig. 1). The time required to obtain a vulcanization curve
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08. is a function of the test temperature and the characteristics of
4
Available from American National Standards Institute, 25 W. 43rd St., 4th the rubber compound.
Floor, New York, NY 10036.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 D 5289
strain of constant amplitude in a cavity that is completely
closed and sealed (see Fig. 4(a)).
6.2 Die Cavity—The die cavity is formed by two dies. In the
measuring position, the two dies are fixed a specified distance
apart so that the cavity is almost closed (see Fig. 3(b) and 3(d)),
or closed and sealed (see Fig. 4(a)).
6.2.1 The dimensions for typical linear shear curemeter dies
include a diameter of 30 mm (1.18 in.), and a total depth of 4
mm (0.16 in.). The dimensions for typical torsional shear
FIG. 1 Types of Vulcanization Curves curemeters include biconical-shaped dies having a diameter of
40 6 2 mm (1.57 6 0.08 in.), and an angle of separation
ranging from 7 to 18°, depending on the manufacturer’s
design. In the center of the dies, a separation equal to 0.5 mm
(0.02 in.) plus the die gap should be maintained (see Fig. 3(b),
Fig. 3(d), or Fig. 4(b)). Manufacturer’s guidelines should be
followed to determine if the dies have been excessively worn
and should be replaced.
6.2.2 Die Gap—The gap between the edges of the dies in
the closed position shall be between 0.05 and 0.20 mm (0.002
to 0.008 in.), preferably 0.1 mm (0.004 in.) for unsealed
cavities. For sealed cavities, no gap should exist at the edges of
the dies.
6.2.3 Die Closing Mechanism—A pneumatic cylinder or
other device shall close the dies and hold them closed during
the test with a force of not less than 8.0 kN (1820 lbf).
6.3 Die Oscillating System—The die oscillating system
FIG. 2 Envelope Vulcanization Curve consists of a rigid eccentric drive, which imparts a linear or
torsional oscillating movement to one of the dies, in the plane
5. Significance and Use of the cavity.
5.1 This test method is used to determine the vulcanization 6.3.1 The amplitude of the oscillation should be either
characteristics of (vulcanizable) rubber compounds. 60.01 to 60.1 mm, preferably 60.05 mm (60.0004 to
5.2 This test method may be used for quality control in 60.0039 in., preferably 60.0020 in.) for linear shear; or
rubber manufacturing processes, for research and development 60.1° to 63.0°, preferably 60.5° of arc for torsional shear
testing of raw-rubber compounded in an evaluation formula- cure meters.
tion, and for evaluating various raw materials used in preparing 6.3.2 The frequency of oscillation should be between 0.5
(vulcanizable) rubber compounds. and 2 Hz, preferably 1.7 6 0.1 Hz.
5.3 The test piece in a rotorless cure meter approaches the 6.4 Force or Torque Measuring System—A force or torque
test temperature in a shorter time and there is a better measuring system shall measure the resultant shear force or
temperature distribution in the test piece due to the elimination torque.
of the unheated rotor found in oscillating disk cure meters. 6.4.1 The force or torque measuring device shall be rigidly
5.4 Several manufacturers produce rotorless cure meters coupled to one of the dies and any deformation shall be
with design differences that may result in different torque negligibly small and shall generate a signal which is propor-
responses and curve times for each design. Correlations of test tional to the force or torque. The total error resulting from zero
results between cure meters of different designs should be point error, sensitivity error, linearity, and reproducibility
established for each compound tested, and for each set of test errors shall not exceed 1 % of the measuring range selected.
conditions.
NOTE 2—The elastic deformation of the oscillating and measuring
6. Apparatus system should not be more than 1 % of the oscillating amplitude;
otherwise, the curemeter curves must be corrected.
6.1 Rotorless cure meters of three types can be used. In each
case, an oscillation of small amplitude is applied to one die. 6.4.2 The force or torque recorder device shall be used to
6.1.1 Linear Strain Rotorless Cure Meter—This type of record the signal from the force or torque measuring device. It
cure meter measures the force produced by a linear strain of shall record the envelope (see Fig. 2) and shall have a response
constant amplitude (see Fig. 3(a)). time for full-scale deflection on the force or torque scale of 1
6.1.2 Unsealed Torsion Strain Rotorless Cure Meter—This s or less. The force or torque shall be recorded with an accuracy
type of cure meter measures the torque produced by an angular of 60.5 % of the range. Torque recording devices may include
strain of constant amplitude in a cavity that is not completely analog chart recorders, printers, plotters, or computers.
closed (see Fig. 3(c)). 6.5 Torque or force calibration equipment is required to
6.1.3 Sealed Torsion Strain Rotorless Cure Meter—This measure the linear or angular strain amplitude and to calibrate
type of cure meter measures the torque produced by an angular the force or torque measuring device. Examples of calibration

2
 D 5289

FIG. 3 (a) and (b)—Typical Linear Shear Rotorless Curemeter; (c) and (d)—Typical Unsealed Torsion Shear Rotorless Curemeter

equipment are shown in Fig. 5, Fig. 6, and Fig. 7. The checked against standard masses using a device as shown in
amplitude of oscillation of the device shall be checked with no Fig. 5 or Fig. 6. An alternate technique shall use a torque
test piece in it. A displacement transducer shall be used to standard.
measure the amplitude and torque measurements shall be

3
 D 5289

FIG. 6 Displacement Transducer and Wire-Mass Calibration

Equipment for Torsion Shear Curemeters

FIG. 4 Typical Sealed Torsion Shear Rotorless Curemeter

FIG. 7 Typical Torque Standard Calibration Device for Torsion

Shear Curemeters
FIG. 5 Calibration Equipment for Linear Shear Curemeter
the full-scale force to be measured.
6.5.1 For calibrating linear strain curemeters, a displace- 6.5.2 For calibrating torsion shear curemeters, either a
ment transducer shall be coupled by contact to one of the dies displacement transducer and wire-mass calibration or a torque
or blocks directly attached to it (see Fig. 5). The amplitude standard shall be used.
shall be checked with no test sample present. The force 6.5.2.1 A displacement transducer for checking angular
measuring system shall be checked by loading a wire, attached displacement shall be coupled by a knife-edge bearing in
to the die or block by a pulley, with masses corresponding to contact with a rod fixed to one of the dies (see Fig. 6). The

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 D 5289
force measuring system shall be checked by loading a wire, 9. Procedure
attached to the die or block by a pulley, with masses corre- 9.1 Preparation for Test—Bring the temperature of both
sponding to the full-scale force being measured. The torque dies to the reference temperature with the cavity closed. Adjust
shall be calculated in this case from the product of the applied the zero of the force or torque measuring device, if necessary.
force and the radius of the die block where the wire is attached. 9.2 Loading the Curemeter:
6.5.2.2 Torque standard calibration checks the torque mea- 9.2.1 Open the dies, unload the previous sample (if neces-
surement at the selected angular displacement by clamping a sary), place the test piece in the cavity, and close the dies
reference steel torsion rod to the oscillating die and the torque within 20 s.
measuring die of the torsion shear cure meter (see Fig. 7). The 9.2.2 The test time shall be counted from the instant that the
reference values for angular displacement and corresponding dies are closed. Oscillation of the movable die shall be started
torque have been established by the manufacturer for each at zero time or before.
torque standard.
10. Report
6.6 Temperature Controlling System—The method of tem-
perature control shall maintain the following process param- 10.1 Report the following information:
eters: heating up time, curing temperature, temperature distri- 10.1.1 A full description of the sample, its origin and
bution, and reference temperature, which are necessary for compound details,
reproducible measurement of the vulcanization curve. The 10.1.2 Test method and test details,
temperature control system shall permit the reference tempera- 10.1.2.1 Reference to this test method,
ture to be varied between 110°C and 200°C with an accuracy 10.1.2.2 Type and model curemeter used (linear or torsion
of 60.3°C or better. shear, manufacturer, die options, if any),
6.6.1 Die shall heat up in 1.5 min or less from closure of the 10.1.2.3 Amplitude of the die oscillation, in millimetres or
die cavity. degrees,
6.6.2 Once heating up time hs been completed, die tempera- 10.1.2.4 Frequency of oscillation,
ture shall not vary by more than 60.3°C for the rest of the test. 10.1.2.5 Force or torque range selected, in Newtons (N) or
6.6.3 The temperature distribution within the test piece shall deci Newton metres (dN·m). (The equation for conversion
be as uniform as possible. Within the deformation zone, a from dN·m to lbf·in. is 1.13 (dN·m) = 1.00 (lbf·in.)),
tolerance of 61°C of the average test piece temperature shall 10.1.2.6 Time scale of the recording device,
not be exceeded. 10.1.2.7 Curing temperature in degrees Celsius, and
6.6.4 The reference temperature is determined by a tempera- 10.1.2.8 Date of the test.
ture sensor used for control. The difference between the 10.2 Test results reported are normally chosen from the
reference temperature and the average test piece temperature following parameters (refer to Fig. 1 for guidance):
shall not be more than 2°C. 10.2.1 FL or ML—Minimum force or torque, in N or dN·m
6.6.5 Temperature measurement accuracy shall be (lbf·in.).
60.3°C for the reference temperature sensor. 10.2.2 Maximum Force or Torque—All in N or dN·m
6.7 Reference Test Temperature—The standard reference (lbf·in.).
test temperature shall be 160°C (320°F). Tests may be carried 10.2.2.1 FHF or MHF—Maximum torque where curve
out at other temperatures if required. Temperatures should be plateaus.
selected in accordance with Practice D 1349. 10.2.2.2 FHR or MHR—Maximum torque of reverting
curve.
7. Sampling 10.2.2.3 FH or MH—Highest torque attained during a
specified period of time when no plateau or maximum torque
7.1 The sample shall be taken from a vulcanizable rubber is obtained.
compound as required by the mixing method or other sampling 10.2.3 tsx—Scorch time, in minutes (time to an increase of
instructions. x units of force or torque from FL or ML). The preferred scorch
7.2 The sample shall be homogeneous, at room temperature, time for tests at an oscillation amplitude of 60.5° is tsl.
and as free of trapped air as possible. 10.2.4 Cure Time, in minutes.
10.2.4.1 t8x—equal to the time to x % of torque increase or
8. Test Specimens t8x = minutes to ML + x (MH − ML)/100 torque.
8.1 The recommended test specimen volume is between 3
NOTE 3—This method of determining the cure times is considered the
and 5 cm3, depending on the model of instrument being used. standard method. The most commonly used values of x are 50 and 90. A
The size of the test specimen should exceed the test chamber cure time of t810 is sometimes used as a measure of scorch time.
volume by a small amount, to be determined by preliminary 10.2.4.2 tx—equal to the time to x % of maximum torque, or
tests. Typically, specimen volume should be 130 to 190 % of tx = minutes to (x·MH)/100 torque.
the test chamber volume. Once a target weight is established,
the weight of specimens should be controlled to within 60.5 g NOTE 4—This is an alternate method for cure time determination.
for best repeatability. 10.2.5 Cure Rate Index—equal to 100/(cure time − scorch
8.2 The test specimen taken from the sample should be time).
circular, with a diameter smaller than the test chamber of the 10.2.6 “t10 % Rise” is the time for the force or torque to rise
instrument to be used. to 110 % of the minimum value. This may be used to measure

5
 D 5289
scorch in some cases. applicable to those particular materials and the specific testing
protocols that include this test method.
11. Precision and Bias 11.2.2 Type I precision results are given in Table 1. This is
11.1 This precision and bias section has been prepared in a short term precision study, covering a period of 1 month or
accordance with Practice D 4483. Refer to Practice D 4483 for less. In this study, three compounds based on SBR and
terminology and other statistical calculation details. SBR/NR polymers with sulfenamide cure systems and carbon
11.2 Precision—The precision data presented in Table 1 black reinforcement were carefully mixed and prepared for
were obtained using a sealed torsion type rotorless curemeter,5 testing. Precut specimens were sent to 11 laboratories along
with standard dies as illustrated in Fig. 5, at 175°C and 60.5° with instructions to test duplicate samples of each compound in
arc. one day, and repeat the testing, after checking calibration, one
week later. Each determination yielded a test result (four per
TABLE 1 PrecisionA
compound).
11.2.3 The precision of this test method may be expressed in
NOTE 1—SR = within laboratory standard deviation, the format of the following statements that use what is called
r = repeatability (in measurement units), an appropriate value of r, R, (r), or (R), that is, that value
(r) = repeatability (in percent),
SR = between laboratory standard deviation,
obtained from Table 1, to be used in decisions about results
R = reproducibility (in measurement units), and obtained with the test method.
(R) = reproducibility (in percent). 11.2.4 Repeatability—The repeatability, r, of this test
Within Laboratory Between Laboratory method has been established as the appropriate value for any
Test Mean
Parameter Value Sr r (r) SR R (R)
parameter as tabulated in Table 1. Two single test results,
obtained under normal test method procedures, that differ by
Compound A:
ML(dN·m) 1.35 0.007 0.02 1.4 0.071 0.20 14.8 more than this tabulated r must be considered as derived from
MN(dN·m) 13.60 0.025 0.07 0.5 0.608 1.72 12.7 different or nonidentical sample populations.
ts1 (min) 1.55 0.009 0.02 1.6 0.065 0.18 11.8 11.2.5 Reproducibility—The reproducibility, R, of this test
t850 (min) 3.10 0.007 0.03 0.8 0.061 0.17 5.6
t890 (min) 4.93 0.015 0.04 0.9 0.147 0.42 8.5 method has been established as the appropriate value for any
Compound B: parameter as tabulated in Table 1. Two single test results
ML(dN·m) 1.00 0.008 0.02 2.2 0.048 0.14 13.6 obtained in two different laboratories, under normal test
MN(dN·m) 10.17 0.024 0.07 0.7 0.478 1.35 13.3
ts1 (min) 2.22 0.008 0.02 1.0 0.076 0.21 9.6 method procedures, that differ by more than the tabulated R
t850 (min) 3.55 0.007 0.02 0.6 0.098 0.28 7.8 must be considered to have come from different or nonidentical
t890 (min) 5.74 0.023 0.06 1.1 0.156 0.44 7.7 sample populations.
Compound C:
ML(dN·m) 1.50 0.011 0.03 2.1 0.076 0.22 14.3 11.2.6 Repeatability and reproducibility expressed as a per-
MN(dN·m) 12.30 0.045 0.13 1.0 0.571 1.62 13.1 centage of the mean level, (r) and (R), have equivalent
ts1 (min) 1.80 0.011 0.03 1.7 0.063 0.18 9.9 application statements as 11.2.4 and 11.2.5 for r and R. For the
t850 (min) 3.34 0.009 0.03 0.8 0.098 0.28 8.3
t890 (min) 5.73 0.018 0.05 0.9 0.156 0.44 7.7 (r) and (R) statements, the difference in the two single test
A
These values are Type I precision values, obtained from fully prepared test
results is expressed as a percentage of the arithmetic mean of
specimens (compounds mixed in one laboratory) which were circulated to all the two test results.
participating laboratories. 11.3 Bias—In test method terminology, bias is the differ-
ence between an average test value and the reference (or true)
11.2.1 The precision results in this precision and bias test property value. Reference values do not exist for this test
section give an estimate of the precision of this test method method since the value (of the test property) is exclusively
with the materials (rubbers, etc.) used in the particular inter- defined by the test method. Bias, therefore, cannot be deter-
laboratory program as described below. The precision param- mined.
eters should not be used for acceptance or rejection testing of NOTE 5—Another precision study is to be performed using a greater
any group of materials without documentation that they are number of materials differing from each other as much as possible.
12. Keywords
5
The Monsanto MDR-2000, available from Monsanto Co., 2689 Wingate Ave., 12.1 compounds; rheometer; rotorless cure meter; vulca-
Akron, OH 44314, was used to obtain precision data for this test method. nization characteristics

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 D 5289

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