Kiwa carries out investigations for manufacturers of rubber compounds and rubber products, distributors and traders, designers, manufacturers and constructors of installations and equipment, maintenance and asset management.

Seals of rubber or TPE shall prevent the leakage of gases or liquids. A proper functioning is the case as long as the sealing pressure within the rubber material is higher than the service pressure of the medium. This sealing pressure is decreasing in time at constant compression or tension due to stress relaxation of the rubber material. At the moment that the sealing pressure in the rubber is decreased by relaxation until a critical level, the rubber part will fail.

The added value that our rubber experts can deliver, is to help you to answer important questions, like: 

  • Does the rubber part has the right design for a proper functioning?
  • Is the rubber material suitable for the intended application?

Rubber stress relaxation testing is important for the choice of the right rubber material for a seal, for the evaluation of the product quality and for the cause analysis of possible failures.

Please contact us to discuss your question and our possibilities.