Possibilities for the use of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) in Rubber Industry

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR-) Spectroscopy is not only a powerful tool for structural chemical analysis, with less expensive equipment it allows the determination of magnetic relaxation times that correlate to the molecule mobility in compounds. Needing extremely short measurement times and a very simple sample preparation of small material volumes (roughly 0.06 in³) this method is easy in use, cheap and fast. NMR allows a broad range of applications in rubber industry for example by determining the crosslink-density or the aged state of elastomers. The principle of the method is reviewed and the use of NMR in failure analysis, material development, process engineering and quality control of parts is discussed. An outlook on the future possibilities of NMR is given.