Question

I am working with Epichlorohydrin and Chloroprene Rubbers and I would like to cast films of 2 mm at most. The solvents I have in my lab are DMSO, THF, DMF, Acetone, Ethanol and Propylene Carbonate. Has anyone made films with these rubbers/elastomers?

Update: I have dissolved epichlorohydrin rubber in Acetone, but the casted films are easily deformed when removing from my casting dish. Now the only challenge is how I can cure them in an acetone medium

Answer 1

To cast films of Epichlorohydrin and Chloroprene Rubbers, I recommend using Acetone or Ethanol as solvents. When curing in an Acetone medium, a longer period of time may be needed.

Step-by-step explanation:

When casting films of Epichlorohydrin and Chloroprene Rubbers, it is important to choose a solvent that can effectively dissolve the rubber and then evaporate to leave behind a solid film.

From the solvents you have listed, I would recommend using Acetone or Ethanol. Acetone is a common solvent for rubber and can dissolve Epichlorohydrin rubber. Ethanol is another good option, but it may take longer for the film to dry completely.

When curing the rubber in an Acetone medium, you may need to leave the film in the Acetone for a longer period of time to allow the curing process to occur. The time required for curing will depend on the specific rubber and curing agent being used, so it may require some experimentation to find the optimal curing time.