Key course information
- Course learning format: RECORDED ONLINE COURSE
- More course dates: See below or click 'Register'
- Pricing and early bird rates: click 'Register' to preview
- Course duration: 6 hours of recorded modules available
- Course access: 28 days to access course materials, learn when it suits you
- Learning support: Optional live Q&A after course completion
- Electronic course notes
- Gain CPD Credits: Smithers training is IOM3 Quality Assured and counts towards professional development.
To book, click Register and choose a session
Looking for an alternative format?
Upcoming online course dates
| Select a session when registering | |
|---|---|
| 8 Dec – 5 Jan 26 | 20 Jul – 7 Aug 26 |
| 12 Jan – 9 Feb 26 | 28 Sep - 26 Oct 26 |
| 11 May - 8 Jun 26 | |
Course overview
Build a solid grounding in rubber technology and understand how every stage - from material selection and compounding to processing and testing - influences end product performance. Through expert-led sessions and practical case studies, you’ll gain the knowledge to make better material choices, solve problems, and improve product reliability.
The programme also covers testing, specifications, failure evaluation, and includes interactive case studies to reinforce practical understanding.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:- Ask the right questions of suppliers, processors and end-users.
- Assess material specifications for suitability to a given application.
- Understand how different service environments affect product performance.
- Recognise the range of elastomers and their properties, uses and limitations.
- Communicate more effectively with suppliers and customers.
- Identify and implement effective quality control procedures.
- Optimise in-house processing methods and identify areas for product improvement.
- Support R&D, production and purchasing decisions to reduce costs and prevent in-service failures.
- Build in-house expertise to drive more competitive product development.
Course content
History of Rubber- A brief synopsis of events in the history of rubber.
- An introduction to what rubber is, and the different types available..
- How the chemical structure of natural and synthetic rubbers dictates their properties and ultimate selection.
- How elastomers are formulated to produce compounds
- The types, levels and functions of the main additives, including curatives in generic components and how these can influence performance
- An explanation of the vulcanisation process, its role in ensuring consistent product performance, and the effects of poor optimisation
- An overview of how raw rubber materials are transformed into finished products, covering:
- Mixing technology
- Extrusion
- Moulding and other conversion processes
- Key process parameters and their impact on product performance are explained.
- Environmental factors that can cause degradation of rubber compounds
- The effects that heat and chemicals have on the polymer network and finished properties
- Methods of protection
- Static and dynamic behaviour of elastomers
- Influence of service parameters such as temperature, strain rates and environment
- Viscoelasticity its consequences on product performance
Who should attend
Ideal for engineers, designers and buyers working with rubber materials or components.
This course is perfect for anyone who needs a solid understanding of rubber materials and how they influence product performance, quality and reliability.
It will benefit:
- Staff working in the rubber industry - including moulders, component manufacturers and material suppliers - who are new to the field or have no formal training, and want to strengthen their technical confidence.
- Professionals from companies that use rubber components - such as automotive, engineering or consumer goods businesses - who want to improve communication with suppliers, make better material choices and solve design or processing issues more effectively.
Meet your expert tutor
Gary Crutchley – Lead Consultant
With more than 30 years in rubber and elastomer technology, Gary Crutchley combines deep technical expertise with practical industry insight. He delivers expert witness services, failure diagnosis and process support, helping organisations solve problems and improve product performance.
What our delegates say about the course material
“World Class.”
Richard Andrews (SEP)
“Very happy I attended the course, wish I had done it years ago.”
Darren Shire (Innospec)
“Very well worth it, excellent way of gaining a background knowledge of rubber technology.”
Micah Vorster (Berwin PPG)
Contact us or download a brochure
Reach out to the training team now - ask about this course or discuss your training goals.
Prefer training tailored to your business?
Smithers also delivers custom and in-company training designed around your products, materials and processes. Get practical, targeted content delivered online or on-site by the same experts who run our public courses.