Compositions and methods for crosslinking polymers in the presence of atmospheric oxygen

A solid elastomer composition which is waterless and cures in the full or partial presence of oxygen, said composition comprising:

• at least one solid elastomer,
• at least one organic peroxide formulation for curing solid elastomers in the presence of oxygen and which is a waterless solid powder comprising:
• at least one organic peroxide selected from the group consisting of dialkyl peroxides, diperoxyketals, mono-peroxy carbonates, cyclic ketone peroxides, diacyl peroxides, organosulfonyl peroxides, peroxyesters and solid peroxydicarbonates,
• a cellulose compound consisting of one or more of cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) having a butyryl content less than 40%, cellulose acetate proprionate, cellulose acetate, cellulose, micronized cellulose, cellulose gum, microcrystalline cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HMPC), hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate phthalate, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, ethyl methyl cellulose, or a combination thereof, and
• at least one coagent which may be selected from the group consisting of bio-based and non-bio based compounds,
• at least one sulfur containing compound,
• wherein the amounts of the at least one organic peroxide and the at least one cellulose compound are selected such that the waterless powder formulation cures a solid elastomer composition in the full or partial presence of oxygen and in the absence of water, the amount of the at least one cellulose compound being from 15 wt% to 70 wt% based on the total organic peroxide formulation.