The Dutch Rubber Foundation (Rubber-Stichting) sponsors 3 Thai PhD students for a period of 4 years each, under a joint program between the Department of Rubber Technology and Polymer Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Thailand, and the Department of Elastomer Technology and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente (UT), the Netherlands.  The students will work and study both in Thailand and the Netherlands.  The projects started in 2009 (two students) respectively 2010 (1 student). 

The program aims to promote the use of renewable and sustainable natural rubber as well as international academic cooperation between the two universities.  One student is working on a project entitled “Implications of PNA-free aromatic/naphthenic extender oils in NR-based tire treads”, the other two are engaged for the project “Silica reinforced natural rubber: compatibilization through chemical functionalities grafted onto natural rubber”.  The projects are supervised by Prof. Jacques W. M. Noordermeer (UT) and Asst.Prof.Dr. Kannika Sahakaro (PSU).    

For more information, contact Dr. Kannika Sahakaro ()skannika@bunga.pn.psu.ac.th

The Dutch Rubber Foundation (Rubber-Stichting) sponsors 3 Thai PhD students for a period of 4 years each, under a joint program between the Department of Rubber Technology and Polymer Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Thailand, and the Department of Elastomer Technology and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente (UT), the Netherlands.  The students will work and study both in Thailand and the Netherlands.  The projects started in 2009 (two students) respectively 2010 (1 student). 

The program aims to promote the use of renewable and sustainable natural rubber as well as international academic cooperation between the two universities.  One student is working on a project entitled “Implications of PNA-free aromatic/naphthenic extender oils in NR-based tire treads”, the other two are engaged for the project “Silica reinforced natural rubber: compatibilization through chemical functionalities grafted onto natural rubber”.  The projects are supervised by Prof. Jacques W. M. Noordermeer (UT) and Asst.Prof.Dr. Kannika Sahakaro (PSU).    

For more information, contact Dr. Kannika Sahakaro ()skannika@bunga.pn.psu.ac.th

This article presents a new method to pre-cure natural rubber (NR) compounds by using microwave energy at a frequency of 2.45 GHz with a rectangular wave guide. The influences of microwave power input, specimen thicknesses, and sulfur contents on the dielectric and thermal characteristics as well as crosslinked contents of microwave-cured NR were studied.  A generalized mathematical model for predicting temperature distribution inside the specimen during pre-heating is also proposed in this work.  Their findings indicated that microwave energy can produce partial crosslinking at temperatures below the actual vulcanizing process. The numerical results from the model agree well with the experimental results.

This article presents a new method to pre-cure natural rubber (NR) compounds by using microwave energy at a frequency of 2.45 GHz with a rectangular wave guide. The influences of microwave power input, specimen thicknesses, and sulfur contents on the dielectric and thermal characteristics as well as crosslinked contents of microwave-cured NR were studied.  A generalized mathematical model for predicting temperature distribution inside the specimen during pre-heating is also proposed in this work.  Their findings indicated that microwave energy can produce partial crosslinking at temperatures below the actual vulcanizing process. The numerical results from the model agree well with the experimental results.

Prof. Dr. Jacques W.M. Noordermeer, member of the Board of the Rubber-Stichting, will be the recipient of the 2010 George S. Whitby Award for Distinguished Teaching and Research. The award, sponsored by Cabot, honors outstanding international teachers of chemistry and polymer science, and recognizes innovative research, as well as outstanding contributions to the integration of chemistry and polymer science into our educational system. Noordermeer is currently a full time professor of elastomer technology and engineering at the Technical University of Twente in the Netherlands.

The research activities of Dr. Noordermeer as head of the Elastomer Technology and Engineering Department at the University of Twente over the past decade have focused on a variety of elements of rubber technology, including mechanisms of rubber reinforcement, crosslinking chemistry, rubber recycling and reuse, and thermoplastic elastomers

Prof. Dr. Jacques W.M. Noordermeer, member of the Board of the Rubber-Stichting, will be the recipient of the 2010 George S. Whitby Award for Distinguished Teaching and Research. The award, sponsored by Cabot, honors outstanding international teachers of chemistry and polymer science, and recognizes innovative research, as well as outstanding contributions to the integration of chemistry and polymer science into our educational system. Noordermeer is currently a full time professor of elastomer technology and engineering at the Technical University of Twente in the Netherlands.

The research activities of Dr. Noordermeer as head of the Elastomer Technology and Engineering Department at the University of Twente over the past decade have focused on a variety of elements of rubber technology, including mechanisms of rubber reinforcement, crosslinking chemistry, rubber recycling and reuse, and thermoplastic elastomers