A Technique for Reducing Membrane Penetration and Bedding Errors

An expedient technique of reducing, significantly, membrane penetration errors and bedding errors at the platens is presented. This technique consists of coating the specimen/membrane and specimen/platen interfaces with a film of liquid rubber of appropriate thickness and properties. This film of liquid rubber is then squeezed into the interstices by a small seatting load/pressure before completion of curing. The effectiveness of this technique is demonstrated by a series of testing.