Numerical model for the optimal vulcanization of 2D polar rubber compounds through microwaves

A numerical model is presented for the optimal vulcanization of 2D extruded polar rubber with microwaves and peroxides. Magnetron power and curing time are used as the input production parameters, and the output mechanical property selected for optimization is the average tensile strength of the item. A 2D thick weather strip is analyzed to validate the model. The electric field is evaluated by means of Yee cells (FDTD approach) and suitably inserted in Fourier’s heat transmission law, thus allowing point-by-point temperature profiles to be determined. The temperature is then used to evaluate the degree of peroxidic reticulation, and thus the final tensile strength. A so-called alternating tangent approach based on the bisection method is finally proposed to estimate the optimal magnetron power and curing time.