Machinery Is The Key To Rubber Processing - Dr. Chakravarty

©2015 - Published by Rubber Machinery World. http://rubbermachineryworld.com
Interview With
Dr.Dr. S.N.ChakravartyS.N.Chakravarty
Consultant & Author, R&D Leader,
Past Chairman of IRI, Hon. Prof. of IIT-Delhi and IIT-Kharagpur,
Various Life-Time Achievement Award Winner

11
Hello Dr. Chakravarty. First of all thank you for accepting an interview with
Rubber Machinery World and sharing your thoughts. Your journey over 40
years in rubber industry has been mixed one. Was a career in Rubber Industry
a conscious choice? Is there a story for the younger generation that you would
like to share?
This is my 50th year in Rubber industry, working in
different countries and India. You may say that
career in Rubber industry was more accidental
than choice. Few lines given below will give the
picture of that time.
“What do you know about Rubber?” was the
question asked at the interview for CSIR Fellowship
at Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science,
Jadavpur, Calcutta by my would-be research guide.
After my Master’s in Chemistry from Banaras
Hindu University in 1960 and a short stint of
lecturer-ship at Kharagpur, I applied for this
research scholarship and was called for the
interview.
I replied “nothing” and thought that the case is
closed. Surprisingly my would-be research guide
told “don’t worry, I also had no knowledge of
rubber when I started to work with it. If you are
serious and hard working then you should be able
to also do it”. At that time a research scholarship
was not easy to get, that even CSIR fellowship.
Obviously I was delighted when I was selected for
this fellowship.
“This is my
50th year in
Rubber
industry,
working in
different
countries and
India.”

Dr. S. N. Chakravarty, President, Elastomer Technology Development Society,
accepting the “TRiLA Life Time Achievement Award, 2015” from Dr. Arup K
Chandra, Head, Research & Development, Apollo Tyres Ltd at the Award
Ceremony in Tyre Expo, Chennai.

22
From a student of rubber technology to an author of books for students of rubber
technology, along the way serving as an employee (with Bayer, Modi Rubber Ltd), a
faculty, and later your own Consultancy has been a long and varied one. Which is
the position that you enjoyed the most? Why?
Yes, it was a long journey, obviously not
smooth all the way.
Lack of qualified personnel and modern
technology were the main problem of
rubber industry at early stages of our life
in the industry. Little encouragement to
the qualified young entrants was
extended. That is the reason I tried to
contribute in rubber technology education
through different forums like Indian
Rubber Institute (IRI), Universities, IIT’s
and at certain receptive industries at their
premises. When I meet my ex-students,
who have made a successful career, it
gives me immense pleasure. Many openly
acknowledge my contribution in their life.
Other great love was R & D in rubber field,
which I pursued throughout my carrier
along with other jobs. Results are available
to see in publications, international
activity, writing of books, conferences etc.
over last 50 years.
“When I meet my ex-
students, who have
made a successful
career, it gives me
immense pleasure.
Many openly
acknowledge my
contribution in their
life. ”

33
Would you say that rubber processing has undergone change in the last 4.5
decades that you have been with rubber industry? What were the drivers for this
change?
Surely, rubber processing has undergone
substantial changes over the last 5 decades, This
is mainly due to availability of developed
machinery – Mixer, Extruder, Calender, Presses
etc. along with electronic / microprocessor
controls, as well as development of rubber
technology & ingredients used in compounding.
Machinery is the key to rubber processing.
“Machinery is
the key to
rubber
processing.”
44
What role has machinery played in this change?
Machinery played many fold role in rubber
industry. These developments of machinery have
made it possible to -
 Improve production output (impact on cost)
 Superior dispersion & homogeneity –
improvement in property level.
 Lowering of wastage – impact on cost
 Dimensional accuracy of components
 Accuracy in working – improvement in quality
 Effective Quality Control (QC)
 Energy saving – very important factor
 Pollution Control, better housekeeping, health
factor for the working people in this industry.

55
What are the key changes and trends happening in tire industry? How much of
these changes has been influence by new machinery? (Or is it the vice-versa?)
Machinery brought Key Changes in rubber industry.
First & foremost mixing technology brought major change
with the help of developed Internal Mixer along with
controls & feeding System. This is widely accepted & being
introduced by the industry of appropriate size. Cold Feed
Extruder coupled with C.V. line is an important introduction
in the industry in not so distant past. IR & Electron Beam
radiation for CV line are also coming in usage. Important
factor for the industry is saving in energy cost and
machinery manufacturer are putting efforts in this
direction.
“Cold Feed
Extruder
coupled with
C.V. line is an
important
introduction in
the industry.”
66
How is rubber moulding different today as compared to past?
Manufacturing of rubber components has gone
sea change. Earlier it was compression moulding,
poorly designed mould & hydraulic press of
inadequate pressure & its non-uniform
distribution on the platen, in turn on mould,
leading to poor dimensional uniformity all over
the product.
Modern Presses have been developed, scientific
mould design & mould making adopted, wastage
drastically reduced. Major step was the
introduction and now widely used Injection
Moulding process for wide variety of moulded
product.

77
What is ETDS (Elastomer Technology Development Society? How is this
society contributing to the industry?
A Technical Society namely "Elastomer
Technology Development Society" was
registered few years back as a non profit
organisation devoted to the promotion and
introduction of modern technology in rubber
filed and industry. Highly experienced and
qualified rubber technologists are member of
this organisation. One of our major aim is to
promote young entrepreneur in rubber area.
We organise Seminars / Workshop / Training
Course in Rubber Technology field at
different locations in the country as well as
abroad. These are organised with the help of
promoters from the rubber industry.
Attached is a sample News Bulletin published
by ETDS which will inform you about our
recent activities. Last seminar was held at
Delhi in end November 2014 on "Tyre
Technology" jointly with Automotive Tyre
Manufacturers Association who also
sponsored the event.
We propose to hold a seminar on
"Instrumental Analysis in the field of
Polymer / Rubber“ in near future.
“One of our
major aim is to
promote young
entrepreneur in
rubber area. ”

88
You have recently authored books? Could you share some insights on them?
Authored two books on rubber.
First one “Introduction to Tyre Technology” came
from series of lecture delivered at Rubber
Technology Centre, IIT, Kharagpur. These were
edited and published in book form. You will notice
there are very few, can be counted on fingers, book
on Tyre Technology in the world. Hence, I thought
publishing this book will help students & young
people from the rubber industry.
Second book “Rubber Technology and Manufacture
of Rubber Products” resulted from the classes &
lectures conducted for students at IRI, University,
NIT & IIT’s over at least two decades. There was not
easily available cheap book for the students. Hence, I
thought why not make these lectures in book form.
After suitable editing this book was published.
“There was
not easily
available
cheap book
for the
students.
Hence, I
thought why
not make
these
lectures in
book form”

99
You are a renowned well-travelled technologist and have interacted with
outstanding research professionals’ world-over. Where do you think India
stands in this list of professionals? What could have been better or different?
I have interacted with Research institutes &
researchers in rubber field in different countries,
Germany, UK, USA, Russia, Japan, Korea, China etc.
over this period. Unfortunately I cannot speak high of
Indian R & D activity in rubber field. Few exceptions
are RCT, IIT Kharagpur and lately set-up R&D Centres
of major tyre companies.
The research and development effort in the Indian
rubber industry does not match in any respect with
what prevails in industrially advanced countries,
though drastic development has taken place in this
direction with the establishment of modern R&D at
bigger units, primarily tyre companies. For quite
sometime research has been confined to universities
and national laboratories. The industry has suffered
heavily because of old machinery and technology
prevailing in it. Modern machinery and developed
technology was not adopted as heavy expenses were
involved.
“The industry
has suffered
heavily
because of old
machinery and
technology
prevailing in
it.”
1010
Great! And one last question, what would you advice on machinery selection to
buyers and users of rubber and tire equipment?
Machinery selection must be guide by the process employed for the
manufacture of particular product. Its efficiency – Quality output & energy
requirement would play important role. Obviously, often certain
compromise is made due to cost factor.

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Machinery Is The Key To Rubber Processing - Dr. Chakravarty

Machinery Is The Key To Rubber Processing - Dr. Chakravarty

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Machinery Is The Key To Rubber Processing - Dr. Chakravarty