Watch Bracelets and elastomeric compounds
| What shall be expected from a synthetic strap |
|
n |
Comfort, flexibility, soft touch |
|
n |
High lifetime |
|
n |
Good resistance to surrounding conditions (sweat, UV light, ozone, pollutants) |
|
n |
Low sensitivity to dirt |
|
n |
Mechanical and wear resistance |
|
n |
Good behaviour facing cosmetics |
|
n |
Free from any allergenic product |
|
Cemical formula
of NBR elastomer |
| Tests applied to synthetic straps |
|
Most of the tests are similar to the ones applied to leather straps. |
|
Furthermore, the following tests are routinely undertaken : |
| |
|
n |
Abrasion wear test |
|
n |
Exposition to water steam (hydrolysis test) |
|
n |
Ozone and oxydation test (surface cracking) |
|
n |
Quantification of allergenics compounds |
|
n |
Nature and hardness characterisation |
| |
|
Fourier Transform Infrared Sprectroscopy (FTIR) is routinely used to determine the nature of an elastomer , as well as possible chemical modifications by ageing.
Hardness is an important property of rubber components ; an ageing does have a direct effect on it. For horological components, IRHD hardness (International Rubber Hardness Degree) is the usual method to determine hardness in agreement with ISO 48, including microIRHD for small items or for superficial measurements.
|
|
|
|
More details are given in the following document
"Artificial ageing of elastomeric watchstraps and compounds" |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
| |
|
| FTIR spectrum of an HNBR elastomer |
Superficial cracks caused by oxydation |
|
|
| Our sections : |
|
|
|
|
Our main services : |
|
|
|
|
About nickel
: |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
