Ester plasticizers are traditionally used to provide low temperature and improved processing of elastomers. New esters have been designed recently to improve permanence of these materials when subjected to high heat and fluid extraction. Even though these new esters show marked improvements, they are still fugitive and can be extracted or volatilized out of the elastomer compounds in severe service conditions. Ideally, reactive esters, which provide non-extraction and low volatility while still providing low temperature flexibility, have been desired.In this study, a reactive ester is compared to high performance traditional esters in various elastomers. Heat aging, hydrocarbon fluid immersion, (i.e.; oils and fluids) and hexane extraction tests show not only the permanence of the reactive esters, but also these esters provide the low temperature flexibility required by many rubber applications.
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