Polymer crosslinking with coupled peroxides

Claim 1

In the process of crosslinking elastomers capable of being crosslinked by free radicals using as the crosslinking agent a free radical affording compound, the improvement which comprises using as said agent a peroxide of the formula R--W--R' where: a. W is selected from --C(=O)--, --C(=O)R 4 C(=O)--, --C(=O)C(=O)--, ##EQU20## b. R and R' are identical and are selected from R 3 OO--C(R 1 )(R 2 )--R 3 O--, (R 3 OO) 2 C(R 4 )--R 2 O--, R 3 OOC(=O)R 3 O--, R 3 OOC(=O)OR 3 O--, R 1 OC(=O)OO--C(R 1 )(R 2 )--R 2 O--, and R 1 C(=O)OO--C(R 1 )(R 2 )--R 2 O--; c. R 1 and R 2 are aliphatic having 1-12 carbon atoms, cycloaliphatic having 3-12 carbon atoms, or aromatic having 6-12 carbon atoms; d. R 3 is aliphatic or cycloaliphatic, each having 4-10 carbon atoms and the carbon atom joined to the peroxy oxygen atom is a tertiary carbon atom; e. R 4 is aliphatic having 1-10 carbon atoms or cycloaliphatic having 3-12 carbon atoms; f. R 5 is lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkoxy, cycloalkoxy, aralkoxy, or aryloxy; g. R 6 is H or lower alkyl; h. Y is the diradical O, S, or N--R 6 ; j. R 2 is an aliphatic diradical having 1-10 carbon atoms or a cycloaliphatic diradical having 3-12 carbon atoms; k. R 3 is an aliphatic diradical having 1-10 carbon atoms, cycloaliphatic diradical having 3-12 carbon atoms, aromatic diradical having 6-12 carbon atoms, or araliphatic diradical having 7-16 carbon atoms; l. R 4 is selected from R 3 , YR 3 Y, R 3 C(=O)YR 3 YC(=O)R 3 , YR 3 YC(=O)YR 3 YC(=O)YR 3 Y, YR 3 YC(=O)R 3 C(=O)YR 3 Y, YR 3 C(=O)YR 3 C(=O)YR 3 Y, YR 3 C(=O)YR 3 YC(=O)R 3 Y, YR 3 YC(=O)YR 3 Y, YR 3 YC(=O)R 3 Y and YR 3 YR 3 Y; and m. R 7 and R 8 are selected from H, alkyl of 1-10 carbons and cycloalkyl of 3-12 carbons and, when R 7 is H, R 8 can also be aryl of 6-12 carbons, and R 7 and R 8 when taken together form alkylene of 2-11 carbons.