Interactive GUI software for natural rubber vulcanization degree numerical prediction

A graphical user interface software called GURU suitable to fit rheometer curves in Natural Rubber (NR) sulphur vulcanization is proposed. Experimental data are loaded using Excel (experimental output comes from a moving die rheometer registration), normalized and fitted with a numerical model that follows the general scheme proposed by Han. Han,s chemical model translates into mathematics by means of a first order ODE system, admitting a closed form solution for the crosslinking density. Three kinetic constants characterize the model and they must be found in such a way to minimize the absolute error between normalized experimental data and numerical predictions. GURU works to minimize the error by means of a trial and error procedure handled interactively by means of sliders, assigning a value for each kinetic constant and a visual comparison between numerical and experimental curves. An experimental case of technical relevance is shown as benchmark.