What a rubber compound is, and why the formulation decides everything
A rubber compound is the ready-to-mould intermediate made by mixing raw polymer homogeneously with fillers, process oils, protective agents and a vulcanisation system. Hardness, tensile strength, tear resistance, heat and oil resistance, dynamic life and behaviour in the mould are all decided at this stage. A good rubber compounder is therefore measured not by mixing capacity alone, but by recipe design and by the ability to repeat the same result batch after batch.
Compound groups we produce
- Calendered rubber sheet and strip: ready for compression and injection moulding. Calendered sheet.
- Cord fabric coating and coating compounds: rubber-coated cord fabric for air-spring bellows, diaphragms and reinforced parts, on our new Troester line. Cord fabric coating.
- Technical compounds: EPDM, NBR, SBR, NR and CR based, hardness and cure system designed to your specification. Technical compounds.
- Toll compounding (custom mixing): masterbatch or final compound from your own recipe under confidentiality. Toll compounding.
From specification to series production
The process starts with your technical specification: polymer type, Shore A hardness, Mooney viscosity, cure characteristics, mechanical targets and, where relevant, ageing, oil or ozone requirements. Our formulation team designs the recipe, validates it at laboratory scale and ships a sample compound with a test report. After your approval the recipe is locked; in series production every batch uses the same weighing, the same mixing profile and the same test plan. Raw-material lots, weighing records and test results are stored per batch, and a certificate of analysis (COA) is issued on request.
Automation for standardised, homogeneous compounds
The variables that affect compound quality most are carbon-black dosing, weighing accuracy and oil feeding. At Metekim all three are automated: vacuum carbon-black automation gives dust-free, closed-loop feeding, raw-material weighing automation doses exactly to recipe, and oil-feeding automation adds process oils precisely and repeatably. The result is a compound with low batch-to-batch variation that behaves predictably in the mould and on the calender.
Every batch is laboratory tested
Our laboratory runs rheometer (ISO 6502), Mooney viscosity (ISO 289), tensile and elongation (ISO 37), tear strength (ISO 34-1), Shore A hardness (ISO 48-4) and heat ageing (ISO 188). Our quality management system is certified by DQS to IATF 16949:2016 and ISO 9001:2015. Laboratory and test methods.
Applications
Commercial-vehicle air-spring bellows, seals and gaskets, hose and profile extrusion, anti-vibration mounts, diaphragms and membranes, conveyor and technical coating applications. We supply moulders and technical-part manufacturers in the automotive supply chain with repeatable series compounds, in Turkey and for export.
Raw-material strength of the group
Our group company Mete Chemicals has distributed rubber polymers and chemicals for 25 years and is the sole authorised distributor of Lanxess rubber chemicals in Türkiye. This gives Metekim raw-material continuity, the right chemical selection and competitive cost.
Learn more
Background articles: what a rubber compound is and how it is made, which compound suits which application and the seven factors behind the price per kg.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum order quantity?
After the sample and approval stage, batch size in series production is planned according to the recipe and mixer capacity. Share your monthly volume and we will agree a batch and delivery plan.
Can you produce from my own recipe?
Yes. Under our toll compounding service your recipe is kept under a confidentiality agreement and used only for your batches. On request our formulation team reviews it for cost and processing safety.
How does the sampling process work?
Once we receive your specification, the recipe is developed at laboratory scale and a sample compound is sent with a test report. After approval the recipe is locked and series production starts.
Do you export?
Yes. We ship calendered sheet, strip and slab compounds to customers in Europe and neighbouring markets; packaging and documentation follow your requirements.