January training opportunities from the Rubber Division
Akron, OH – Make 2026 your most productive year yet. The Rubber Division, ACS is offering One Training Pass that unlocks all Division courses and webinars for 12 months – one simple price with unlimited learning.
January 14 – Course: Rubber Manufacturing Economics – How to Rationalize Raw Materials, Minimize Costs & Optimize Final Properties – Dr. Irene Yurovska
The objective of this course is to provide understanding of a typical cost structure in the rubber industry and to promote awareness of different cost components, their correlations and cost impact. You will learn about some effects of ingredient and process characteristics on rubber properties and costs of the final products.
January 15 – Webinar: Basics of Polymer Testing & Processing – Paul Merda, ARDL
This webinar is designed to be an introduction to the rubber industry for employees who have very little or no understanding of how rubber or plastic parts are manufactured and tested. It introduces some basic terminology used in the rubber and plastic industries. Several types of testing will be introduced, and practical examples will be shared to illustrate why parts/products are tested. Lastly, this webinar provides an overview of the rubber mixing process, as well as a few processing and curing methods commonly used in this industry.
Joe Walker will lead the following courses:
January 21 – Course: Essentials of Silicone Rubber
This course is designed to provide participants with a thorough understanding of silicone’s engineering characteristics. It will take you from creation of silicone from sand through formulating the compound and the various methods by which silicone can be fabricated into useful service articles. The subject matter will deal with the differences between high consistency rubber, caulks and the various liquid silicone rubbers. This course is suitable for those individuals having various degrees of knowledge in silicone materials and applications.
January 22 – Course: Scientific Rubber Molding
This course is designed to show how to establish a rubber molding process based on cross link density. It will show the influence of cross link density on mechanical properties, as well as its influence on de-molding. The overall focus is the design of a rubber molding process that yields the most consistent properties.
Webinars are free for members and all Rubber Division, ACS courses are free for undergraduate student members (discount for masters & graduate student members).