Ethylene–Acrylic Elastomers

Abstract Ethylene‐acrylate elastomers are a family of addition copolymers of ethylene and methyl acrylate that were commercialized under the trademark VAMAC by Du Pont Co. in 1975. Traditional grades of ethylene‐acrylic elastomers also have small amounts of a carboxylic monomer polymerized into the polymer backbone to provide cure sites for cross‐linking with amines. A line of copolymers of only ethlyene and methyl acrylate has been added to the ethylene‐acrylic family. In this article cure properties, aging characteristics, mechanical properties, and low temperature properties of ethylene‐acrylic elastomers are reviewed. Special compounded attributes such as uniquely temperature‐stable vibrational damping properties and the ability to produce flame‐resistant and smoke suppressive compounds are also discussed. Ethylene‐acrylic elastomers are processed in the same manner as other elastomers. Because of this balance of properties, ethylene‐acrylic elastomers have found ready acceptance in many high performance applications, especially in the automotive market.