Chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) is a transformative powder product resulting from the suspension chlorination of HDPE in a water phase. As the degree of chlorination increases, the original crystalline HDPE morphs into a highly versatile amorphous elastomer. [1] This saturated polymer material, presented as a white powder, is non-toxic and odorless. It boasts an array of impressive attributes, including exceptional weather, ozone, chemical, and aging resistance. Additionally, its oil resistance, flame retardant capabilities, and coloring properties make it invaluable. Demonstrating remarkable toughness, CPE remains flexible even at temperatures as low as -30ºC. Its excellent compatibility with other polymer materials and high decomposition temperature, where it decomposes into HCL, further enhance its utility. HCL, in turn, catalyzes the dechlorination reaction of CPE, ensuring its effectiveness.
Chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) is a versatile polymer material derived from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) via a chlorination substitution reaction. This material is categorized into two types: resin chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) and elastic-type chlorinated polyethylene (CM), based on its structure and usage. Thermoplastic resins, such as CPE, can be used independently or blended with other materials like polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), ABS, and even polyurethane (PU). In the rubber industry, CPE stands out as a premium, high-performance special rubber. It can also be blended with other rubbers such as ethylene propylene rubber (EPR), butyl rubber (IIR), nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), and chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM), enhancing its versatility and performance.
Since the late 1990s, the domestic demand for high-performance flame-retardant rubber has surged, driven by the burgeoning wire and cable industry and the auto parts manufacturing sector. Rubber-type CPE has emerged as a specialized synthetic rubber, celebrated for its comprehensive properties, including superior heat resistance, oxygen and ozone aging resistance, and exceptional flame retardancy. These characteristics make it an indispensable material in various high-demand applications.
Chlorinated polyethylene resin represents a groundbreaking synthetic material endowed with a suite of outstanding properties. It serves as an excellent impact modifier for PVC plastic and as a high-performance synthetic rubber. Its applications are vast, spanning cables, wires, hoses, tapes, rubber and plastic products, sealing materials, flame-retardant transport belts, waterproof rolls, films, and various profiles. Furthermore, CPE can be blended with polypropylene, high and low-pressure polyethylene, and ABS to enhance flame retardancy, aging resistance, and printing performance. Functioning as a random copolymer of ethylene, polyethylene, and 1.21-2 vinyl chloride, this material's molecular chain saturation and polar chlorine atom distribution grant it extraordinary physical and chemical properties. It finds extensive use across industries such as machinery, electric power, chemicals, building materials, and mining. CPE's heat, ozone, weather, and aging resistance surpass most rubbers, while its oil resistance beats nitrile (NBR) and neoprene (CR), and its aging resistance outperforms chlorosulfonated vinyl chloride (CSM). It is resistant to acids, alkalis, salts, and other corrosive agents, is non-toxic, flame retardant, and poses no explosion risk.
Chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) is primarily utilized in applications such as wire and cable production (including coal mine cables and wires conforming to UL and VDE standards), hydraulic hoses, automotive hoses, tapes, rubber plates, PVC profile pipe modifications, and magnetic materials. It is also instrumental in the modification of ABS, enhancing its performance and expanding its range of applications.