Advanced Rotorless Rheometer for Real-World Elastomer and Rubber Compound Analysis
The RPA ultra is an advanced rotorless rubber rheometer designed to provide comprehensive analysis of the viscoelastic properties, processing behaviour, and performance characteristics of elastomers and rubber compounds.
Building on the capabilities of a conventional Rubber Process Analyzer, the RPA ultra features a unique fully rotational lower die that enables realistic simulation of actual rubber processing conditions. This innovative technology provides deeper insight into material behaviour during critical manufacturing processes such as mixing, extrusion, moulding, and curing.
With advanced rheological analysis capabilities, high-speed data acquisition, and intelligent software integration, the RPA ultra delivers precise, production-relevant material data for research, development, quality control, and process optimisation.
Standards
- ASTM D5289
- ASTM D6048
- ASTM D6204
- ASTM D6601
- ASTM D7050
- ASTM D7605
- ASTM D8059
- ASTM D8491
- ISO 6502
- ISO 13145
- DIN 53529
Measuring Methods
The RPA ultra supports a comprehensive range of rheological measurement techniques:
- Isothermal testing
- Non-isothermal testing
- Frequency Sweep
- Strain Sweep
- LAOS (Large Amplitude Oscillatory Shear)
- Stress Relaxation
- Steady Shear / Ramp
- Matrix Sweep
Applications
The RPA ultra is suitable for advanced characterisation of:
- Pure polymers
- Polymer blends
- Uncured rubber compounds
- In-situ compounds
- Thermoplastics
- Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR)
- Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE)
- Recovered Carbon Black (rCB) compounds
Typical applications include:
- Rubber formulation development
- Polymer research
- Production process optimisation
- Compound quality control
- Material comparison and validation
- Manufacturing troubleshooting
Product Overview
The RPA ultra represents the next generation of rubber process analysis, combining advanced rheometer technology with realistic simulation of manufacturing conditions.
Unlike conventional rotorless rheometers, the RPA ultra incorporates a fully rotational lower die, allowing the instrument to reproduce production-relevant shear conditions. This enables more accurate evaluation of elastomer behaviour during processes such as extrusion, moulding, and curing.
By providing a closer representation of real manufacturing environments, the RPA ultra helps engineers and researchers better understand material flow, viscosity behaviour, curing characteristics, and dynamic performance.
The intuitive BareissOne software platform simplifies measurement control, data management, and analysis, allowing users to efficiently optimise formulations, improve product quality, and accelerate development cycles.
Key Features
Fully Rotational Lower Die for Process-Relevant Simulation
The unique rotational lower die allows the RPA ultra to simulate real processing conditions, including extrusion-relevant shear rates.
This advanced capability bridges the gap between laboratory testing and production performance by providing more realistic insight into:
- Material flow behaviour
- Processing characteristics
- Viscosity response
- Elastomer performance during manufacturing
The result is more meaningful laboratory data for improving production outcomes.
High-Speed Sampling for Advanced Fourier Transform Rheology
The RPA ultra captures exceptionally high-resolution data during each measurement cycle, enabling advanced Fourier Transform Rheology (FTR) analysis.
By converting time-domain data into frequency-domain information, the system provides deeper understanding of complex viscoelastic behaviour, including:
- Elastic response
- Viscous response
- Molecular structure effects
- Dynamic material behaviour
This allows researchers to characterise materials with greater precision and confidence.
Production-Level Insights with Wall-Slip Analysis
The RPA ultra can simulate real processing conditions through optional wall-slip analysis.
By replacing the standard upper test die with a polished die surface designed to replicate extruder wall conditions, researchers can investigate material behaviour under production-like environments.
This provides valuable insight into:
- Extrusion behaviour
- Processing instability
- Surface effects
- Material flow characteristics
BareissOne Software Platform
The RPA ultra integrates with BareissOne, an advanced software platform designed to simplify complex rheological testing and data management.
BareissOne enables:
- Intuitive test setup
- Automated measurement control
- Data storage and analysis
- Comparison of material results
- Reporting and documentation
- Efficient workflow management
The user-friendly interface allows researchers to focus on interpreting results rather than managing instrument operation.
First Floor-Standing RPA Design with Integrated Mobility
The RPA ultra introduces a flexible floor-standing design with integrated rollers, allowing convenient movement within the laboratory environment.
This innovative configuration provides:
- Improved accessibility
- Flexible laboratory placement
- Easier relocation between testing areas
- Space-efficient installation
Additional Features
Direct Simulation of Mooney Viscosity Behaviour
Traditionally, Mooney viscosity has been estimated using empirical calculations. With the RPA ultra's rotational capability, viscosity behaviour can now be simulated more directly, providing improved correlation with real processing conditions.
Plug-and-Play Test Dies
The RPA ultra features interchangeable test dies with a convenient plug-and-play design.
Benefits include:
- Fast configuration changes
- Reduced setup time
- Easy maintenance
- Increased testing flexibility
Benefits
- Advanced rotorless rubber rheometer technology
- Realistic simulation of production processing conditions
- Fully rotational lower die for enhanced analysis
- Measures complex viscoelastic properties
- Supports advanced rheological test methods
- High-speed sampling for improved material characterisation
- Wall-slip analysis capability
- Accurate evaluation of elastomer processing behaviour
- BareissOne software integration
- Mobile floor-standing design
- Suitable for research, development, and quality control
Typical Industries
- Rubber manufacturing
- Tyre production
- Automotive components
- Polymer processing
- Chemical industries
- Materials research
- Industrial manufacturing
- Quality assurance laboratories