Antidegradant system development for EPDM produced via constrained geometry catalyst technology

In the first part of this work [1], the components of the sulfur cure syste m were examined to optimize compression set and high temperature aging for sealing applications. The present work extends the trends observed in the f irst part by eliminating elemental sulfur and 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) , in order to further improve compression set and high temperature aging. I n addition, examples of various types of antidegradants were screened, incl uding carbon radical traps, alkoxy radical traps, peroxide decomposers and antioxidant synergists, to determine their effect on compression set and hi gh temperature aging.