Investigation on vulcanization degree and residual stress on fabric rubber composites

Based on the rubber vulcanization kinetics equation and the mechanical constitutive model, the effect of vulcanization degree and residual stress on the fabric rubber composites and Ω-shaped fabric rubber seal molding are investigated. First, the three-dimensional homogeneous vulcanization constitutive equations of rubber materials are derived, and the thermal conduction and the rubber vulcanization kinetics are simulated by finite element method with UMATHT and UMAT subroutines. Second, the vulcanization kinetics process is analyzed and optimized which is verified by rubber seal formulation vulcanization experiments. Finally, the vulcanization degree and the residual stress of fabric rubber during the vulcanization process are analyzed, which indicates that the maximum residual stress of fabric rubber composite is ten times that of the pure rubber. The investigation on the vulcanization degree and the residual stress distribution during the vulcanization process will provide a theoretical guidance for optimizing the parameters and evaluating the properties of fabric rubber composites.