METHOD FOR MEASURING THE CROSS-LINKING DEGREE OF A COMPONENT OF ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL

A method for measuring the degree of cross-linking of a component (C) of elastomeric material obtained as a result of a hot-forming process, comprises a preliminary calibration step in which a plurality of samples (8) are provided, made of the same material as the component (C). The samples (8) have different degrees of cross-linking following respective hot-forming processes conducted for different periods of time. The preliminary calibration step includes:- providing a measuring device (I) comprising an electrical circuit, in which a voltage generator (5) is arranged in series with metal contacts (7) configured to selectively receive a sample (8), and an ammeter (6), - positioning a sample between said metal contacts (7), providing a predetermined voltage value, and detecting the corresponding current value by means of said ammeter (6). The aforesaid steps are repeated for each sample (8), so as to obtain a calibration map (M) that associates a given degree of cross-linking of the material constituting said component (C) with each determined value of electrical conductivity. Electrical conductivity measurement data obtained from the test component are compared with the calibration map in order to obtain information on the component quality. Corresponding measurement apparatus is also disclosed.