Saferubber Case Study

Saferubber is a safer alternative for thiourea-based accelerators in the production process of chloroprene rubber. The SafeRubber project has received EC funding under the Seventh Framework Programme to develop a new, safe, multifunctional accelerator curative molecule which can replace thiourea-based accelerators in the vulcanisation process.

Generally, thiourea-based accelerators are used in the vulcanisation of polychloroprene rubber, primarily ethylene thiourea (ETU), as it produces the highest performance rubber cure system. However, ETU is toxic, being classed as a Category 2 carcinogen by the RU, IARC and EPA. Under the REACH directive, it is believed that it will be classified as a carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic (CMR) substance, which will lead to legislation banning or severely limiting its use in the future. This will in turn have a negative impact on the SME members using this, who are already under threat.

Additionally, as Asian countries do not have to meet EU Health and Safety regulations, they enjoy a lower cost base and therefore are able to import over €80 million of chloroprene rubber in to the EC per annum (total market is €240 million), further reducing the competitiveness of the SME members.

As association groups (AGs) representing a range of SME rubber producers, the SME-AGs have initiated the SafeRubber project to produce an effective solution to these problems, in order to enhance the competitiveness of the European SME synthetic rubber manufacturers.

The consortium believe a solution can be developed that will deliver;

• An IP protectable method for producing polychloroprene rubber, with reduced costs associated with health and safety – protecting them from the current dominance of large enterprises
• A 90% reduction in the quantities of MgO and ZnO required during vulcanisation, achieved through using a multi-functional accelerator – allowing the SME members to compete on cost with Far Eastern suppliers
• Reduced environmental impact through reduced feedstock (of MgO and ZnO) and effluent hazards associated with the process – further reducing costs.