New High and Low Temperature Esters for Acrylic Elastomers

            Acrylic elastomers are used in many demanding applications that require high heat resistance over extended periods of time.  These polymers are typically plasticized at minimum levels with efficient, low-temperature esters.  Normally, they do not use high levels due to the fact that these polymers have moderately low modulus values.
           The standard esters used are very efficient in lowering hardness and providing low temperature, but are very volatile at the high temperature ranges in which they are exposed.  This study compares two esters, TegMeR® 812 and Paraplex® A-8000, which provide improved low temperature performance after long-term high heat aging. The new esters were compared to the standard esters in two different acrylic elastomers. High and low temperature testing was conducted with the emphasis on the retention physical properties after heat aging.