Fluoroelastomer Specialists
As detailed by Rubber World in their article “Modification of fluoroelastomers based on TFE-P copolymer to improve cure speed, physical properties and mold release,” fluoroelastomers are essential in applications requiring extreme heat and chemical resistance. FEPM, an alternating copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and propylene (P), is notable for its excellent resistance to organic and inorganic acids and bases, particularly amines in automotive lubricants. However, fluoroelastomers based on vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene (FKM) fall short in resisting organic and inorganic bases, especially at high temperatures.
Despite FEPM’s superior chemical resistance, it poses challenges in processability, such as inadequate curability and poor mold release performance during compression set processing. Various cure systems have been developed to enhance these aspects. Typically, these systems incorporate a cure site monomer during polymerization. Commonly used cure site monomers include vinylidene fluoride, vinyl fluoride, vinyl chloride, trifluoroethylene, trifluoropropylene, and pentafluoropropylene.
Traditional cure promoters like quaternary phosphonium or ammonium salts have been used to enhance curability and mold release. However, these improvements often come at the expense of base resistance, particularly amine resistance, due to the inclusion of the cure site monomer.
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Article with all rights reserved, courtesy of rubberworld.com
Photo with all rights reserved, courtesy of depositphotos.com.
