Readily Curable Chlorinated Poly-α-Olefins and Ethylene-α-Olefin Copolymers

Abstract

Chlorinated polyolefins have been prepared which are readily curable at 287° F at low chlorine contents. Their preparation depends primarily on using a chlorination solvent, generally an aromatic compound, which introduces both reactive chlorine and unsaturation. A process has been developed wherein ethylene propylene copolymers are first prepared and then chlorinated in the same aromatic solvent. Chlorinated copolymers have been cured with a variety of formulations which take advantage of the lability of chlorine atoms or of unsaturation, or of both. Properties of vulcanizates of chlorinated ethylene propylene copolymers are described.