Temperature Retraction Testers

Temperature retraction testers are used to gauge the retraction of treated rubber after it has been significantly cooled.

To perform a retraction test, a sample is first stretched at room temperature and then held in a stretched position with a tensile force. The sample is then cooled to a point at which it will not retract if the tensile force is removed, as cooling increasingly inhibits rubber’s elasticity.

The tensile force is then removed and the sample temperature is increased at a steady rate. Once the sample reaches a predetermined retraction rate, the temperature at which the rate was reached is recorded.