Process and apparatus for improving and controlling the vulcanization of natural and synthetic rubber compounds

A process for curing a rubber part composed of natural or synthetic rubber with fillers using vulcanization equipment, comprising:

• a) measuring curing conditions by dielectric or impedance means applied on opposite sides and through the rubber part or a witness cavity representing the part during the curing process to produce a process curve for a specific rubber compound, wherein said process curve is correlated with a one or more rheometric properties of the rubber compound and one or more desired or specified mechanical properties of the rubber part;
• b) analyzing the process curve for the specific rubber compound with a software algorithm which defines and quantifies a correlation relationship between the process curve and the rheometric properties of the rubber compound and the desired or specified part mechanical properties;
• and
• c) applying the correlation relationship in real-time to end the curing process and thereby produce rubber part(s) of uniform quality and with reduced process cycle time.