What makes polyacrylate elastomers resistant to heat and oils?

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Know how researchers created a synthetic material, elastomers, that can change color and texture to specific voltage change, like that of cephalopods — elastomer Learn about elastomers that are changeable in colour and texture, much like the skin of octopuses and other cephalopods. In the elastomers, these changes take place under electrical stimulation.

Polyacrylate elastomers derive their resistance to heat and oils from their specific chemical composition and structure. These synthetic rubbers are produced by the copolymerization of ethyl acrylate or other acrylates with a small amount—approximately 5 percent—of a monomer containing a reactive halogen, such as chlorine.12

During the manufacturing process, the polymer chains are interlinked at these halogen sites to form an elastic network. This structural configuration provides the material with its notable resistance to heat, ozone, sunlight, and swelling caused by hydrocarbon oils. Due to these durable properties, polyacrylate elastomers are primarily utilized in industrial applications requiring high performance, such as O-rings, seals, and gaskets.12