Properties of peroxide-cured elastomer compositions

1. An elastomeric composition comprising:

a rubber component comprising one or more ethylene-propylene elastomers having a melting point temperature of 70° C. or less;

one or more peroxide curing agents; and

a blend of plasticizers comprising two or more oligomers of C 5 to C 24 alpha-olefins (PAOs), where the ratio of the highest kinematic viscosity at 100° C. to the lowest kinematic viscosity at 100° C. is at least 1.5, and said blend has a viscosity index of 120 or more, a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 20 cSt or more, and a M n of 1100 g/mole or more, wherein polypropylene and polyethylene are both substantially absent from the composition.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the rubber component is a blend of ethylene-propylene (EP) elastomer and ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) elastomer.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the one or more ethylene-propylene elastomers is a blend of about 30 wt % to about 70 wt % of ethylene-propylene (EP) elastomer and about 70 wt % to about 30 wt % ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) elastomer.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the one or more ethylene-propylene elastomers is a blend of about 45 wt % to about 55 wt % ethylene-propylene (EP) elastomer and about 45 wt % to about 55 wt % ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) elastomer.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the rubber component is at least partially cured by the peroxide.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the blend of plasticizers is present in an amount of about 20 to 50 phr.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the blend of plasticizers has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 40 cSt or more.

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plasticizers of the blend of plasticizers has a Noack volatility of less than N* where N*=60e −0.4(KV100C) wherein N* has units of % and KV100° C. has units of cSt.

9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene-propylene elastomers have a density of 0.885 g/cm 3 or less.

10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene-propylene elastomers have a heat of fusion of 70 J/g or less.

11. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene-propylene elastomers have a ethylene or propylene crystallinity of 15 wt% or less.

12. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene-propylene elastomers have a glass transition temperature of −20° C. or less.

13. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene-propylene elastomers have a Mooney viscosity at 125° C. in the range of 1 to 100.

14. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene-propylene elastomers have a total ethylene content in the range of 50-70 wt%.

15. An elastomeric composition comprising:

a rubber component comprising one or more ethylene-propylene elastomers having a melting point temperature of 70° C. or less;

one or more peroxide curing agents; and a blend of at least two non-functionalized plasticizers, wherein two of the plasticizers have a difference in kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of about 100 cSt or more, and wherein the blend has a viscosity index of 120 or more, a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 20 cSt or more, and M n of 1100g/mole or more, wherein polypropylene and polyethylene are both substantially absent from the composition.

16. The composition of claim 15 , wherein the two plasticizers have a difference in kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 100 to 300 cSt.

17. An elastomeric composition comprising:

a rubber component comprising one or more ethylene-propylene elastomers having a melting point temperature of 70° C. or less;

one or more peroxide curing agents; and a blend of at least two non-functionalized plasticizers where a first non-functionalized plasticizer has a viscosity index of 300 or more and a second non-functionalized plasticizer has a viscosity index of 150 or less, and wherein the blend has a viscosity index of 120 or more, a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 20 cSt or more, and a M n 1100 g/mole or more, wherein polypropylene and polyethylene are both substantially absent from the composition.

18. An elastomeric composition comprising:

a rubber component comprising one or more ethylene-propylene elastomers having a melting point temperature of 70° C. or less;

one or more peroxide curing agents; and

a blend of at least two non-functionalized plasticizers selected from the group consisting of oligomers of C 5 to C 24 alpha-olefins (PAOs) and wax isomerate lubridant base stocks or oils, where the blend has a viscosity index of 120 or more and where the two non-functionalized plasticizers have different kinematic viscosities, pour points, viscosity indexes or glass transition temperature temperatures, and, wherein polypropylene and polyethylene are both substantially absent from the composition, and wherein the rubber component is at least partially cured by the peroxide.

19. The composition of claim 18 , wherein the rubber component is a blend of ethylene-propylene (EP) elastomer and ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) elastomer.

20. The composition of claim 18 , wherein the one or more ethylene-propylene elastomers is a blend of about 30 w% to about 70 w% of ethylene-propylene (EP) elastomer and about 70 w% to about 30 w% ethylene-propylene-diene(EPDM) elastomer.

21. The composition of claim 18 , wherein the one or more ethylene-propylene elastomers is a blend of about 45 wt% to about 55 wt% ethylene-propylene (EP) elastomer and about 45 wt% to about 55 wt% ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) elastomer.

22. The composition of claim 18 , wherein the blend is present in an amount of about 20 to 50 phr.

23. The composition of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the plasticizers of the blend has a Noack volatility of less than N* where N*=60e− 0.4(KV100° C.) wherein N* has units of % and KV100° C. has units of cSt.

24. An elastomeric composition comprising:

a rubber component comprising one or more ethylene-propylene elastomers having a melting point temperature of 70° C. or less;

one or more peroxide curing agents; and

a blend of at least two non-functionalized plasticizers wherein the non-functionalized plasticizers are selected from the group consisting of Group III mineral oils and wax isomerate lubricant base stocks or oils, wherein the blend has a viscosity index of 120 or more and two of the plasticizers have a difference in kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of about 100 cSt or more, and wherein polypropylene and polyethylene are both substantially absent from the composition.

25. The composition of claim 24 , wherein the the two plasticizers have a difference in kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 100 to 300 cSt.

26. An elastomeric composition comprising:

a rubber component comprising one or more ethylene-propylene elastomers having a melting point temperature of 70° C. or less;

one or more peroxide curing agents; and

a blend comprising at least two non-functionalized plasticizers where a first non-functionalized plasticizer has a viscosity index of 300 or more and a second non-functionalized plasticizer has a viscosity index of 150 or less, and wherein the blend has a viscosity index of 120 or more wherein the one or more non-functionalized plasticizers are selected from the group consisting of Group III mineral oils and wax isomerate lubricant base stocks or oils, wherein polypropylene and polyethylene are both substantially absent from the composition.

27. An elastomeric composition comprising:

at least one rubber component comprising ethylene-propylene rubber;

at least one rubber component comprising ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) rubber; and

two or more non-functionalized plasticizers where at least a first non-functionalized plasticizer has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 300 cSt or more and at least a second non-functionalized plasticizer has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 150 cSt or less, wherein polypropylene and polyethylene are both substantially absent from the composition.

28. The composition of claim 27 , wherein the ethylene-propylene (EP) rubber and ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) rubber are at least partially peroxide cured.

29. The composition of claim 27 , wherein a ratio of the first non-functionalized plasticizer to the second non-functionalized plasticizer based on total weight of the plasticizer is about 10:90 to about 40:60.

30. The composition of claim 27 , wherein the two or more non-functionalized plasticizers comprises between about 10 wt% and 90 wt% of the first non-functionalized plasticizer.

31. The composition of claim 27 , wherein the two or more non-functionalized plasticizers comprises between about 30 wt% and 70 wt% of the first non-functionalized plasticizer.

32. The composition of claim 27 , wherein the two or more non-functionalized plasticizers comprises between about 40 wt% and 60 wt% of the first non-functionalized plasticizer.

33. The composition of claim 27 , wherein at least one of the two or more non-functionalized plasticizers has a Noack volatility of less than N* where N*=60e −0.4(KV100° C.) wherein N* has units of % and KV100° C. has units of cSt.

34. The composition of claim 27 , wherein all of the two or more non-functionalized plasticizers have a Noack volatility of less than N*, where N* =60e −0.4(KV100° C.) wherein N* has units of % and KV100° C. has units of cSt.

35. An elastomeric composition comprising:

a rubber component comprising one or more ethylene-propylene elastomers;

one or more peroxide curing agents; and

at least two non-functionalized plasticizers, where the first non-functionalized plasticizer has a viscosity index of 300 or more and the second non-functionalized plasticizer has a viscosity index of 150 or less, and both plasticizers have a pour point of −20° C. or less, a flash point of 200° C. or more and a specific gravity of 0.86 or less, wherein polypropylene and polyethylene are both substantially absent from the composition.

36. A method for preparing an elastomer composition, comprising:

mixing at least one a rubber component comprising a blend of ethylene-propylene (EP) rubber having a melting point temperature of 70° C. or less and ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) rubber having a melting point temperature of 70° C. or less, a peroxide, and a blend of two or more oligomers of C 5 to C 24 alpha-olefins (PAOs), where the ratio of the highest kinematic viscosity at 100° C. to the lowest kinematic viscosity at 100° C. is at least 1.5, and wherein the blend of oligomers has a viscosity index of 120 or more, a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 20 cSt or more, and a M n of 1100 g/mole or more, and wherein polypropylene and polyethylene are both substantially absent from the composition.

37. An elastomeric composition comprising:

at least one rubber component comprising ethylene-propylene (EP) rubber and/or ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) rubber;

one or more peroxide curing agents, and

a non-functionalized plasticizer comprising a blend of two or more oligomers of C 5 to C 24 alpha-olefins (PAOs), where the ratio of the highest kinematic viscosity at 100° C. to the lowest kinematic viscosity at 100° C. (KV 100 Ratio) is at least 1.5, and where the blend of the two or more PAOs has a viscosity index of 120 or more, a pour point of −20° C. or less and a flash point of 200° C. or more,

wherein the rubber component is at least partially peroxide cured, and

wherein polypropylene and polyethylene are both substantially absent from the composition.

38. The composition of claim 37 wherein the blend has a specific gravity of 0.86 or less.

39. The composition of claim 37 wherein the rKV 100 Ratio is at least 2.

40. The composition of claim 37 wherein the KV 100 Ratio is at least 3.

41. The composition of claim 37 wherein the KV 100 Ratio is at least 5.

42. The composition of claim 37 wherein the blend comprises at least one PAO having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 150 cSt or more and at least one PAO having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 100 cSt or less.

43. The composition of claim 37 wherein the blend comprises at least one PAO having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 100 cSt or more and at least one PAO having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 40 cSt or less.

44. The composition of claim 37 wherein the blend comprises at least one PAO having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 40 cSt or more and at least one PAO having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 25 cSt or less.

45. The composition of claim 37 wherein the blend comprises at least one PAO having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 10 cSt or more and at least one PAO having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 6 cSt or less.

46. The composition of claim 37 wherein the blend comprises at least one PAO having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 10 cSt or more and at least one PAO having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 4 cSt or less.

47. The composition of claim 37 , wherein the rubber component is a blend of EP rubber and EPDM rubber.

48. The composition of claim 37 , wherein the ratio of the first PAO to the second PAO based on total weight of the plasticizer blend is about 10:90 to about 40:60.

49. The composition of claim 37 , wherein a the rubber component comprises a blend of about 30 wt% to about 70 wt% of EP elastomer and about 70 wt% to about 30 wt% EPDM elastomer.

50. The composition of claim 37 , wherein the blend of plasticizers is present in an amount of about 20 to 50 phr.

51. The composition of claim 37 , wherein the first or second PAO has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 20 cSt or more and a M n of 1100 g/mole or more.

52. An elastomeric composition comprising:

at least one rubber component comprising ethylene-propylene (EP) rubber and/or ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) rubber;

one or more peroxide curing agents, and

a non-functionalized plasticizer comprising a blend of i) at least one oligomer of C 5 to C 24 alpha-olefins (PAO) and ii) at least one a wax isomerate lubricant base stock or oil derived from hydrocarbons synthesized in a Fischer Tropsch process as part of a gas to liquids process (GTL-liquid),

where the ratio of the highest kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of the PAO or the GTL liquid to the lowest kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of the PAO or the GTL liquid (KV 100 Ratio) is at least 1.2, and where the blend of the PAO and the GTL liquid has a viscosity index of 120 or more, a pour point of −20° C. or less and a flash point of 200° C. or more,

wherein the rubber component is at least partially peroxide cured, and

wherein polypropylene and polyethylene are both substantially absent from the composition.

53. The composition of claim 52 wherein the blend has a specific gravity of 0.86 or less.

54. The composition of claim 52 wherein the KV 100 Ratio is at least 1.5.

55. The composition of claim 52 wherein the KV 100 Ratio is at least 2.

56. The composition of claim 52 wherein the KV 100 Ratio is at least 3.

57. The composition of claim 52 wherein the blend comprises at least one PAO having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 25 cSt or more and at least one GTL liquid having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of less than 25 cSt.

58. The composition of claim 52 wherein the blend comprises at least one PAO having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 40 cSt or more and at least one GTL liquid having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of less than 25 cSt.

59. The composition of claim 52 wherein the blend comprises at least one PAO having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 100 cSt or more and at least one GTL liquid having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of less than 25 cSt.

60. The composition of claim 37 wherein the blend comprises at least one PAO and at least one GTL liquid comprising a mixture of paraffins of carbon number ranging from about C 20 to C 100 , a molar ratio of isoparaffins:n-paraffins greater than about 50:1, the percentage of carbons in paraffinic structures (C p ) of 98% or more, a pour point ranging from about −20 to −60° C., and a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of from about 6 to 20 cSt.

61. The composition of claim 52 , wherein the rubber component is a blend of EP rubber and EPDM rubber.

62. The composition of claim 52 , wherein the rubber component comprises a blend of about 30 wt% to about 70 wt % of EP elastomer and about 70 wt % to about 30 wt % EPDM elastomer, and the blend of plasticizers is present in an amount of about 20 to 50 phr.

63. The composition of claim 52 , wherein the PAO has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 20 cSt or more and a M n of 1100 g/mole or more.

64. An elastomeric composition comprising:

at least one rubber component comprising ethylene-propylene (EP) rubber and/or ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) rubber;

one or more peroxide curing agents, and

a non-functionalized plasticizer comprising a blend of i) at least one oligomer of C 5 to C 24 alpha-olefins (PAO) and ii) at least one Group III Mineral Oil having an VI of 120 or more, a saturates levels of 90% or more, and a sulfur content less than 0.03%,

where the ratio of the highest kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of the PAO or the Group III Mineral Oil to the lowest kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of the PAO or the Group III Mineral Oil (KV 100 Ratio) is at least 1.2, and where the blend of the PAO and the Group III Mineral Oil has a viscosity index of 120 or more, a pour point of −20° C. or less and a flash point of 200° C. or more,

wherein the rubber component is at least partially peroxide cured, and

wherein polypropylene and polyethylene are both substantially absent from the composition.

65. The composition of claim 64 wherein the blend has a specific gravity of 0.86 or less.

66. The composition of claim 64 wherein the KV 100 Ratio is at least 1.5.

67. The composition of claim 64 wherein the KV 100 Ratio is at least 2.

68. The composition of claim 64 wherein the KV 100 Ratio is at least 3.

69. The composition of claim 64 wherein the blend comprises at least one PAO having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 10 cSt or more and at least one Group III Mineral Oil having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of less than 10 cSt.

70. The composition of claim 64 wherein the blend comprises at least one PAO having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 20 cSt or more and at least one Group III Mineral Oil having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of less than 10 cSt.

71. The composition of claim 64 wherein the blend comprises at least one PAO having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 40 cSt or more and at least one Group III Mineral Oil having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 8 or less cSt.

72. The composition of claim 64 , wherein the rubber component is a blend of EP rubber and EPDM rubber.

73. The composition of claim 64 , wherein the rubber component comprises a blend of about 30 wt % to about 70 wt % of EP elastomer and about 70 wt % to about 30 wt % EPDM elastomer, and the blend of plasticizers is present in an amount of about 20 to 50 phr.

74. The composition of claim 64 , wherein the PAO has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 20 cSt or more and a M n of 1100 g/mole or more.