Published: 5/12/2020

(Akron, OH) – Smithers, a leading provider of testing, consulting, information, and compliance services, announced today an upgrade to the low temperature retraction instrumentation and capabilities at its rubber physical testing laboratory in Akron, Ohio.
 
The new instrument offers improved temperature control for low temperature retraction. The instrument is significantly more efficient, which will allow for better turnaround times for customers.
 
“Our top priority is getting accurate data to our customers on time,” said Christine Domer, General Manager, Akron Labs, Smithers. “This investment was prioritized because it will allow for high precision and faster turnaround times for our customers, so they can get their products to market sooner.”
 
Low temperature retraction testing is highly valuable for any rubber products that encounter low temperatures in their service environment, such as seals, o-rings, gaskets, and many aerospace products. The test determines the temperature at which a product loses its shape to such a degree that performance is compromised. For example, an o-ring is designed to create a firm seal between two parts. If service temperatures dip below what the o-ring’s compound can recover from, the o-ring could crack or break, ultimately failing to maintain a seal.
 
“A common industry benchmark for low temperature retraction is called TR-10, which refers to the temperature at which the rubber sample retracts 10% from its elongated shape,” said Jeff Marek, Physical Testing Lab Supervisor, Smithers. “However, we can use this instrument to determine a product’s service range beyond industry specifications. This gives us the flexibility to design custom tests in addition to standardized protocols, so our customers can predict how their product will perform in the field at any temperature.”
 
Located in Akron, the Smithers rubber physical testing laboratory offers a full suite of testing and sample preparation services for clients across a number of industry segments. The lab shares spaces with the company’s analytical and product testing laboratories and has a sister lab in the United Kingdom. The combination of the two locations and other complementary labs in North America, Europe, and China gives Smithers the capacity, flexibility, and expertise to meet any client’s testing needs worldwide.
 
To learn more, contact Jeremy Elliott at 330-762-7441 or jelliott@smithers.com.