Chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) is a remarkable powder product derived from the suspension chlorination of HDPE in a water phase. As the chlorination degree increases, the original crystalline HDPE transforms into an amorphous elastomer. [1] CPE is a saturated polymer, appearing as a white, non-toxic, and odorless powder. It boasts exceptional weather resistance, ozone resistance, chemical resistance, and aging resistance. Additionally, it has impressive oil resistance, flame retardant, and coloring properties. Its toughness remains intact even at -30ºC. CPE exhibits excellent compatibility with other polymers and features a high decomposition temperature. Upon decomposition, it releases HCL, which can catalyze the dechlorination reaction of CPE.
Chlorinated polyethylene is crafted from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) through a chlorination substitution reaction. Depending on its structure and usage, CPE is categorized into resin chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) and elastic type chlorinated polyethylene (CM). Besides being used independently, thermoplastic resins can blend seamlessly with PVC, PE, PP, PS, ABS, and even PU. In the rubber industry, CPE serves as a high-performance, premium special rubber. It can also be combined with ethylene propylene rubber (EPR), butyl rubber (IIR), nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), and chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM), offering unparalleled versatility and performance.
In the late 1990s, the domestic demand for high-performance, flame-retardant rubber surged, driven by the wire and cable industry's growth and the automotive parts manufacturing sector. This increased demand fueled the need for rubber CPE. CPE rubber stands out as a special synthetic rubber offering excellent comprehensive properties, including outstanding heat resistance to oxygen, ozone aging, and superior flame retardancy.
Chlorinated polyethylene resin is a groundbreaking synthetic material endowed with a series of superior properties. It serves as an excellent impact modifier for PVC plastic and a synthetic rubber with impressive overall performance. Its wide range of applications includes cables, wires, hoses, tapes, rubber and plastic products, sealing materials, flame-retardant transport belts, waterproof rolls, films, and various profiles. CPE can also blend with polypropylene, high and low-pressure polyethylene, and ABS, enhancing these plastics' flame retardancy, aging resistance, and printing performance. As an ethylene, polyethylene, and vinyl chloride random copolymer, CPE's molecular chain saturation and randomly distributed polar chlorine atoms give it outstanding physical and chemical traits. It finds extensive applications in machinery, electric power, chemical, building materials, and mining industries. CPE surpasses most rubbers in heat resistance, ozone and weather resistance, and aging resistance. Its oil resistance outshines nitrile (NBR) and neoprene (CR), and its aging resistance is superior to chlorosulfonated vinyl chloride (CSM). Additionally, it offers excellent acid, alkali, and salt corrosion properties, is non-toxic, flame retardant, and poses no explosion risk.
Mainly used in: wire and cable (including coal mine cables and those meeting UL and VDE standards), hydraulic hoses, automotive hoses, tapes, rubber plates, PVC profile pipe modification, magnetic materials, and ABS modification.