ShibataFenderTeam Group releases first White Paper on rubber compounding

The first part of the SFT White Paper Series on fender manufacturing outlines the considerations relevant to determining what makes a good fender. It focusses on the raw materials used in rubber production, the physical properties of a fender, and their correlation with the compound’s composition.

There are international standards and guidelines providing guidance as to the physical properties of rubber fenders – like PIANC2002 and ASTM D2000. However, there is no international standard specifying the chemical composition of the rubber compound used in the manufacturing of rubber fenders.

The paper finds that in fender manufacturing, physical properties are the only reliable indicator of the quality of a rubber compound that is defined by international standards. In addition, it recommends that ratios of fillers and reinforcement agents such as carbon black (CB), calcium carbonate (CC) and silica should be determined by specialists with profound material knowledge, as amount and particle size greatly influence the compound as well as its performance and durability.

The paper furthermore draws attention to the fact that rubber compounds mixed correctly with CC by experienced manufacturers comply with and surpass international testing standards.

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