Tagged: Automotive

Join us April 28 – 29, 2026, in Barberton, Ohio, for Organic Elastomers 360°, a multifaceted training event where you’ll learn how to examine the performance of organic elastomers from every angle. This hands-on event is hosted by RDAbbott in collaboration with Akron Rubber Development Laboratory (ARDL) and features expert contributions from companies across the rubber industry.

Donald Alstadt, inventor of the Chemlok® Rubber-to-Metal Adhesive System, has been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame as part of its 2026 class. Alstadt, a chemist at LORD Corporation (now Parker Lord), patented this solvent-borne adhesive technology in 1956. His former schoolmate, RDAbbott’s Carl Hoglund, helped commercialize Chemlok.

Dow has published an article in EV Design and Manufacturing that explains why silicones are instrumental in supporting EV battery performance and safety. Designers have a choice of thermal management and fire protection materials, but silicones combine thermal stability, high temperature resistance, and electrical insulation along with other critical characteristics.

Cancarb Limited has published a Technical Bulletin that shows how formulating EPDM sponge rubber compounds with Thermax® N990 reduces mixing power consumption and improves elongation while maintaining physical properties and achieving an excellent surface finish.

The Detroit Rubber Group will host its Fall Technical Meeting on Thursday, October 23, at Airboss of America Corporation’s Auburn Hills facility, The event runs from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (ET) and includes technical presentations and a tour of Airboss’ manufacturing facility. Steve Griffin, RDAbbott’s Director of Business Development, will be one of the featured presenters and will share insights on Conductive Silicone Technology.

Hallstar has developed a new line of polymeric plasticizers for fluoroelastomer (FKM) compounds, a class of high-performance materials that are challenging to plasticize because of their fluorinated backbones. Plasthall® P-920 and its dry version, Suprmix® Plasthall® P-20, act as processing aids and reduce viscosity with minimal impact on tensile properties. They enhance extrusion efficiency by lowering Mooney viscosity, which reduces torque and energy consumption.

The Los Angeles Rubber Group (TLARGI) will host its annual Technical Conference, Oktoberfest, and Mini Expo on Tuesday, October 7, at the Brea Community Center in Brea, California. The Technical Conference kicks off at 1:00 PM and includes a presentation by RDAbbott’s Rick Ziebell on Conductive Silicone Technology. Then, starting at 5:00 PM, the Oktoberfest and Mini Expo will begin— marking the first time RDAbbott and its manufacturing subsidiary, NovationSi, will be exhibiting side by side at this event.

The Ohio Rubber Group will hold its Fall Technical Meeting on Tuesday, September 23, at the Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland/Twinsburg in Twinsburg, Ohio. The event runs from 4:00 to 9:00 PM and includes technical presentations, a social hour, and dinner. Steve Griffin, RDAbbott’s Director of Business Development, is one of the presenters and will discuss Conductive Silicone Technology.

Hallstar’s polarity chart offers a visual guide for comparing plasticizers by polarity and molecular weight. This technical resource also outlines suggested applications, performance features, and compatible polymer systems—making it a valuable tool for formulators seeking optimal plasticizer solutions.

Hallstar is promoting renewable and readily available alternatives to trimellitate esters, chemical compounds that are used as plasticizers in rubber and PVC. Formulators who use these offsets can match the performance of synthetic trimellitate esters while strengthening their supply chains, reducing regulatory pressures, and advancing their environmental sustainability goals.