Therban /HNBR for Biodiesel Applications

THERBAN hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) is a specialty elastomer used in demanding engineering applications such as the automotive, heavy duty, and oil well markets. It has excellent combination of heat, oil and abrasion resistance in addition to its high mechanical strength, very good dynamic and compression set properties. This paper will explore the use of THERBAN for biodiesel applications including aging studies performed on new fully saturated low Mooney viscosity Therban AT polymers with up to 50% Acrylonitrile content at elevated temperatures and over long durations in soybean methyl ester and rapeseed methyl ester based biodiesel fuels. These products combine four unique performance characteristics: a) the ultra high acrylonitrile content for maximum fluid and fuel resistance, b) fully saturated polymers for best heat resistance c) the benefits of improved processability (easier mixing, faster injection molding cycles, faster extrusion rates, and smoother surfaces/edges of extruded parts), and d) the versatility in compounding such as the elimination or reduction of plasticizer (improving performance) or the increase in filler levels (lower costs).