Cure Indicator Ink Gaining Popularity

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03-05-2007 - Akron, OH - APV product code D-2624
Solvent-based ink

Another APV innovative solution is being used by hose plants across the country. Cure Indicator Temperature-Sensitve Ink is designed to be gravity-fed through a Beugler© striping wheel to substrates such as an uncured rubber hose (as shown in the main picture to the right and the bottom left picture). A continuous ink stripe of a selected width is laid down on the hot extruded hose or tube. When the uncured product is wound onto spools to be steam-cured in an autoclave, for example, the red pigment in the ink changes from red to white to indicate that the marked rubber has reached the desired cure temperature. The photo at the bottom right shows a formed hose alongside an uncured one. The color change is activated when the temperature reaches 260 degrees Fahrenheit or above and is sustained for a period of time. The higher the temperature, the quicker the change of color, as this process is time-temperature dependent. Cure indicator ink takes the guesswork out of knowing how much rubber has cured. It also reduces scrap and the risk of supplying hose or tube to the end-user that could fail.