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Chlorosulfonated polyethylene elastomers (designated as CSM by ASTM D-1418)
are characterized by an excellent combination of ozone resistance, color stability,
heat resistance, weatherability, chemical resistance and oil resistance. CSM
is superior to polychloroprene in overall properties, and inferior to but more
cost-effective than silicone or fluoroelastomers. Compared with chlorinated
polyethylene, chlorosulfonated polyethylene elastomers exhibit better mechanical
properties and abrasion resistance. Both chlorosulfonated polyethylene elastomers
and chlorinated polyethylene can be cross-linked by peroxides or radiation
curing, but chlorosulfonated polyethylene elastomers can also be cross-linked
by metal oxides, sulfur-bearing organic compounds and epoxy resins. Because
of their unique set of properties, chlorosulfonated polyethylene elastomers
have been adopted in many industrial applications since their introduction
to the market by DuPont in 1952.
The three global producers of chlorosulfonated polyethylene are DuPont in
the United States, Tosoh in Japan and Jilin Petrochemical in China.
In 2004, world capacity for chlorosulfonated polyethylene elastomers was almost
40 thousand metric tons. The United States remains the dominant producer. China
was the sole country to add capacity during 1997–2004; it commissioned
a chlorosulfonated polyethylene elastomer plant in September 2004 with an annual
capacity of 3 thousand metric tons.
The United States accounted for the majority of world consumption in 2004,
followed by Japan and China.
In 2004–2009, world consumption is forecast to grow at an average annual
rate of 3.0%, but will vary widely among the regions. China will provide higher
growth, and demand in Europe will likely recover, as evidenced by a sharp increase
in imports in 2005.
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