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Technical Information Chemical Resistance Guide

Chemical resistance with ENGAGE™ - 29580 ENGAGE™

Polyolefin Elastomers This study provides a comparison of the chemical resistance of ENGAGE™ Polyolefin Elastomers (POE) in different chemical environments. A range of chemicals was chosen including aqueous and oxygenated solvents selected from the ASTM D543-87 Standard Reagents List. In addition, some common fluids like gasoline, diesel, mineral oil, and turpentine were selected. The concept was to cover the broadest range of chemical environments considered most likely to be encountered in applications using ENGAGE Polyolefin Elastomers. The chemical resistance of eight different grades of ENGAGE POE was determined. The ENGAGE resins were chosen to provide a range of densities and melt indices to allow better interpretation of the trends. Introduction Results of tests comparing the performance of ENGAGE™ Polyolefin Elastomers in contact with commercial solvents, oil, fuels, and lubricants The information pertaining to chemical resistance is intended to serve as a general guide. The information listed does not take into account all variables that can be encountered in actual use. Thus, it is advisable to test material under actual or simulated service conditions. Rather than using absolute values, a rating system based on the degree of change in properties with chemical exposure was used to evaluate the samples. The rating is based on a combination of changes in hardness and tensiles, therefore the results are relative to this grading. Several trends are readily apparent: Interpretation of Chemical Resistance Tables Overall chemical resistance improves with increasing density or molecular weight. Ethylene butene (EB) and ethylene octene (EO) polyolefin elastomers have comparable chemical resistance when compared at comparable Shore A Hardness or crystallinity. Samples were tested in accordance with Federal Test Method Standard No. 601 ENGAGE resins do not perform as well in the chlorinated or hydrocarbon solvents – results from this study showed that the lower density resins often dissolved or swelled severely. About the Test
(1) ; changes in mechanical and dimensional characteristics were determined after exposure to the chemicals. Plaques were compression molded from ENGAGE™ POE, and tensile and flex bars were cut from the plaques. Flex bars were used for dimensional measurements. Samples were immersed for a period of 46 hours at 23°C (73°F). Following the immersion, the samples were removed from the chemicals and dried; their physical properties were tested within 30 minutes after removal from the liquid. Hardness, stress-strain behavior, and dimensional changes were recorded and compared against the original values obtained prior to immersion. See the results in Table 1 on the next page.
(1) General liquid treatment tests for vulcanized and rubber-like materials Form No. 774-00040-0906X Page 1 of 3 ® ™Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow 11102 SMG