Benchmark For New Elastomer Compounds

Using ethylene thiourea (ETU) as an accelerator in the vulcanization of chloroprene rubber is standard in the industry. Products with this accelerator have been used successfully for decades and show very good values in terms of low-temperature flexibility as well as the required resistance to media such as greases and lubricants. Due to the risk of reproductive toxicity and its damaging effect on fruit, however, ethylene thiourea should no longer be used if its omission is technically and economically feasible. But so far there have been no alternatives that offer a similar performance or even met the requirements.

That is why Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has developed new elastomer compounds that require no ethylene thiourea accelerator in the manufacture of products made of chloroprene rubber. One of the company’s already successful applications of ETU-free products in the automotive sector is in sealing bellows for joint seals in tie rods, control arms and wishbones. They protect the moving parts from external influences and the leakage of lubricants. When it comes to the development of new, ETU-free elastomer compounds, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies is one of the pioneers and is currently considered a benchmark in this area.