RAPRA's vibrating needle curemeter is a commercial device which continuously monitors material cure. A deeper understanding of its operation can clarify the prospects of further utilization in evaluating rheological properties. The curemeter monitors a cure right through from the liquid to the solid phase in liquid curing systems for rubbers, plastics, paints and resins. It provides a continuous record of the development of viscosity and stiffness. The amplitude attenuation of a vibrating needle at resonance frequencies is the basic mechanism whereby the monitoring of the progress of a given cure is achieved.

Problem presented by
Bryan Willoughby, RAPRA Technology Ltd

Study Group contributors
David Allwright (Smith Institute)
Chris Budd (University of Bath)
John Byatt-Smith (University of Edinburgh)
Alistair Fitt (University of Southampton)
Nev Fowkes (University of Western Australia)
Jens Gravesen (Technical University of Denmark)
Peter Howell (University of Nottingham)
Sam Howison (University of Oxford)
John King (University of Nottingham)
Andrew Lacey (Heriot-Watt University)
John Ockendon (University of Oxford)
Kevin Parrott (University of Greenwich)
Giles Richardson (University of Nottingham)
Charles Wang (Lancaster University)
Simon Wilson (University of Manchester)