Bayer Corporation

Judy Hannay

Harald Bender

Frederic Guerin

Ezio Campomizzi

The present invention is directed to a nitrile polymer vulcanizate having improved hot air aging characteristics. The nitrile polymer vulcanizate may be produced by admixing a composition containing: (i) a nitrile polymer; (ii) a filler; (iii) a metal salt of a secondary amine; (iv) a vulcanization system; and optionally (v) an additive selected from the group consisting of a strong base, a salt of a strong base and a weak acid, a salt of a weak acid, a carbodiimide, a polycarbodiimide and mixtures thereof.

Nitrile polymer vulcanizate and process for the production thereof

A vulcanizate derived from a polymer composition comprising three components exhibits improved hot air aging properties and is useful, for example, for the manufacture of articles subject to dynamic loading, such as belting applications. The first component is a polymer having a main polymer chain derived from: (i) at least about 30% by weight of a first monomer which introduces at least one of a secondary carbon and a tertiary carbon to the backbone, and (ii) from 0 to about 70% by weight of at least one other monomer. Preferred are ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers. The second component is a salt of a strong base and a weak acid, the salt comprising a metal selected from Group I of the Periodic Table of Elements. The third component is an antioxidant.

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Petrolia, CA, United States of America

Judy Hannay