R.T. Vanderbilt Company, Inc. Thank you for you for your interest in Vanderbilt Latex Chemicals.

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Waterborne Technologies Lab How are the chemicals we sell evaluated? This presentation will explain the methods used by our Waterborne Technologies lab during the evaluation of Latex Chemicals.

The Lab

Vanderbilt maintains Research, Analytical, and Process Development laboratories. Additionally, each of our chemical manufacturing plants and mines has its own quality control laboratory. Finally, Vanderbilt also has eight Applications Laboratories that not only develop new chemicals but also discover new applications for the chemicals we already have. The applications labs are: Rubber Plastics Ceramics Minerals Specialties Petroleum Paint & Paper and of course, Latex – the new name for which is Waterborne Technologies. The Lab

Making a Compound

Vanderbilt is not a latex product manufacturer; therefore, we are not experts at dipping, extrusion, coating, carpet backing or foam. We could not possibly be! Nevertheless, we have standard systems and techniques to evaluate our chemicals in latex compounds. These procedures for sample preparation and testing methods are presented so that you will be confident in evaluating our products. Making a Compound

Mixing a Master Batch

Almost everyone viewing this presentation will be able to relate to this kind of laboratory mixing. There is nothing unusual about it. A master batch compound is mixed. It contains all the ingredients except the variables, in this case the accelerators. Mixing a Master Batch

Adding the Variables

On the table top are portions of the master batch compound. To each was added a different accelerator system. This allows us to test many different variables at one time. It is not uncommon to evaluate and test many compounds in a single study. In this case, we are evaluating four of our SETSIT® Liquid Accelerators against a control of BUTYL ZIMATE® Accelerator Slurry. All of our products including our new VANOX® ZMTI and VANOX SPL Antioxidant Slurries, as well as, our new WB-4 Latex Accelerator were evaluated in this way. Adding the Variables

A Control Should one be used? YES!

Using a Control In this sort of study, it is very important to include a control. A control allows for the minimization of errors. For example a study that contains 100 compounds could not be completed all at once. This means that each set of samples could deliver a different set of results. These variations can be caused by keeping the door of the oven open too long, using an oven that does not hold its temperature well, using different ovens with different temperature recovery times, etc. The use of a control allows for the adjustment of these errors. So if the control of the second batch of 20 samples is 5% higher than the first batch of 20 samples, then a 5% adjustment is made in order to account for these variations.

Coating the Sample

After mixing all of the variable compounds, as well as a control compound, the samples are poured onto glass plates. Coating the Sample

Creating a Film

A film is created by drawing down the wet compound with a metering tool.

Sample is now ready for Vulcanization

Ready for Vulcanization After air drying for approximately twenty-four hours, the films are stripped from the glass.

Vulcanization Photo used Courtesy of Salvis Lab Thermocenter

The samples are then placed in a circulating hot air oven for curing/vulcanization. Vulcanization

Testing the Films

As described in ASTM Procedure D 412, dumbbells are stamped out and allowed to condition in a humidity- controlled room for 24 hours. Testing the Films

Testing Photo used courtesy of Instron Corporation.

Testing The samples are tested for original physical properties on our new Instron 3366 Universal Testing Machine.

Additional Tests

Normally another set of samples is then exposed to conditions that are anticipated to be similar to those that the finished product will be subjected to when in use. For example, in the case of gloves, the samples are subjected to accelerated heat aging to help determine shelf life. For carpet backing, samples are exposed to UV light to determine yellowing. In the case of thread, samples are exposed to metals, in order to determine metal ion chelation or copper staining.

Additional Sample Tests Photo used courtesy of Instron Corporation

Additional Sample Tests These additional samples are then tested on the Instron 3366 Universal Testing Machine.

Thank you for taking the time to review this presentation. Please click on the information button at the upper right corner or call (203) if you have any questions regarding the presentation or any of our products. We look forward to working with you in the future. Thank you!

BUTYL ZIMATE, SETSIT and VANOX are registered trademarks of R.T. Vanderbilt Company, Inc.