Fluoroelastomer composition comprising a mineral oil

Abstract

The present invention provides the use of a mineral oil in a fluoroelastomer composition comprising a fluoroelastomer to improve the flow of said composition during processing to form an article therefrom and/or to improve the release from a mold of a vulcanized article produced from said fluoroelastomer composition. Further provide are a fluoroelastomer composition that includes a mineral oil, a method of making an article therewith and a method of preparing the fluoroelastomer composition.

1 . Method of making a fluoroelastomer article comprising providing a fluoroelastomer composition comprising a blend of a fluoroelastomer and a mineral oil and processing said composition to form a fluoroelastomer article by means of a processing technique selected from the group consisting of extrusion, injection molding, transfer molding, compression molding and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       2 . Method according to  claim 1  wherein the mineral oil is present in said fluoroelastomer composition in an amount of 0.25 to 15 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of fluoroelastomer.  
   
   
       3 . Method according to  claim 1  wherein the mineral oil is at least partially adsorbed on a carrier.  
   
   
       4 . Method according to  claim 3  wherein said carrier comprises particles capable of adsorbing the mineral oil.  
   
   
       5 . Method according to  claim 4  wherein the particles are selected from the group consisting of carbon black and inorganic particles.  
   
   
       6 . Method according to  claim 1  wherein the fluoroelastomer composition further comprises a wax.  
   
   
       7 . Method according to  claim 6  wherein the wax is a vegetable wax and is contained in the fluoroelastomer composition in an amount of less than 2 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of fluoroelastomer.  
   
   
       8 . Method according to  claim 1  wherein the fluoroelastomer composition further comprises a vulcanization system and wherein said method further comprises vulcanizing the fluoroelastomer composition.