Vulcanizable chlorinated elastomer compositions with improved processing safety and cure rate

A curable chlorinated elastomer composition consisting essentially of:

• a chlorinated elastomer;
• a polymercapto crosslinking agent, wherein said polymercapto crosslinking agent is 2-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5-thiobenzoate;
• an inorganic base;
• and
• a quaternary ammonium salt selected from the group consisting of 1-octylpyridinium chloride, 1-octylpyridinium bromide, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolinium chloride, 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolinium chloride, and 1-hexyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolinium chloride.

An article comprising at least one component formed from a cured composition, wherein said cured composition being formed from a curable chlorinated elastomer composition consisting essentially of:

• a chlorinated elastomer;
• a polymercapto crosslinking agent, wherein said polymercapto crosslinking agent is 2-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5-thiobenzoate;
• an inorganic base;
• and
• a quaternary ammonium salt selected from the group consisting of 1-octylpyridinium chloride, 1-octylpyridinium bromide, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolinium chloride, 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolinium chloride, and 1-hexyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolinium chloride.

A method of curing a chlorinated elastomer composition comprising the steps of:

• providing a chlorinated elastomer composition;
• providing a cure system composition consisting essentially of:
• a polymercapto crosslinking agent, wherein said polymercapto crosslinking agent is 2-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5-thiobenzoate;
• an inorganic base;
• and
• a quaternary ammonium salt selected from the group consisting of 1-octylpyridinium chloride, 1-octylpyridinium bromide, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolinium chloride, 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolinium chloride, and 1-hexyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolinium chloride;
• contacting said chlorinated elastomer composition with said cure system composition, and thereby curing said chlorinated elastomer composition.