New High Performance DOTG Replacement Cure Systems for Acrylic Elastomers

Vamac^® ethylene acrylic elastomers (AEM) and HyTemp^® polyacrylate (ACM) elastomers are both used in under the hood automotive applications for their fluid and high and low temperature resistance.  DOTG (N,N’-di-o-tolylguanidine) is used in almost all cure systems for AEM and is also commonly used in ACM.  The use of DOTG may need to be eliminated or formulated out due to potential regulatory concerns (REACH) as well as toxicity issues.  Replacement guanidine-free cure systems that maintain high performance are highly desirable as alternatives to DOTG.  The R.T. Vanderbilt Rubber Laboratory has developed several new cure systems targeting a high performance replacement of DOTG in the acrylic based elastomers AEM and ACM.