1. Peroxide curing: Which polymers?
The following polymers can be cured with peroxides:
- EP(D)M, natural and synthetic polyisoprene (NR, IR), polybutadiene (BR), SBR, EVA.
- Polyethylene (PE) and TPE as SBS, SIS.
- Nitrile (NBR), hydrogenated nitrile (HNBR), chlorinated polyethylene (CM or CPE), chloroprene (CR), polyurethane (PUR), chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM), polyacrylate (ACM), silicone.
The following polymers cannot be cured with peroxides:
- Butyl (IIR), chlorobutyl (CIIR), polyisobutylene, epichlorhydrin (CO).
- Polypropylene (PP).
2. Peroxide curing: why? or why not?
Some reasons of the choice or the rejection of the peroxides to cure the rubber compounds are listed.
For more detailed information (mode of action, basic mechanisms..) on the crosslinking of rubbers, please visit our Solutions with Organic Peroxides - Crosslinking Agents
According to P.R. DLUZNESKI , the table 2 shows some properties of an EPDM cured with two peroxides or sulfur. We can observe the excellent ageing of the peroxide cured vulcanizates.