This second conference focusing on high peformance elastomers covered the elastomers being used in high demand environmental applications and brings together a number of papers dealing with new fluoro and silicone elastomers in the field. Studies of the behaviour of elastomers and components in environmentally hostile media, and methods of predicting age-related mechanical properties in elastomeric seals will be presented.

The papers presented were of high technical quality, given by industry experts and will be of interest to material suppliers, compounders, technologists and processors together with vehicle designers, and manufacturers of products required for environmentally demanding applications; in fact all end users of these speciality elastomers.

List of Papers
SESSION 1: THE HIGH PERFORMANCE ELASTOMER INDUSTRY

An Overview of the High Performance Elastomer Industry in 2002
Richard Beswick & Dr Dave Dunn, bms AG, Switzerland

The Market for LSR in Europe (Market Survey 2002)
Ulrich Eich, Schlegel & Partner GmbH, Germany
PAPER UNAVAILABLE AT TIME OF PRINT

Fluorosilicone Rubber - The Current State of the Science
Graeme Smith, Lauren Tonge, Mohammed Fiaz & Jean Pierre Ventura, Dow Corning Ltd, Belgium
PAPER UNAVAILABLE AT TIME OF PRINT

SESSION 2: HIGH PERFORMANCE AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS

Polymers to Resist Automotive Fuel Permeation and Emissions - Compatability & Orientation Effects of Polymers & Multi-component Fuels
Nickie Dale & Bob Campion, Materials Engineering Research Laboratory (MERL) Ltd., UK

Silicone Rubber for Noise and Vibration Damping in Automotive Applications
Mohammed Fiaz , Mike Proctor, Graeme Smith & Jean Pierre Ventura, Dow Corning Ltd, UK

Advances in New Heat Resistant ACM Technology for Automotive Applications
Peter Abraham, Paul Manley, Andy Anderson & Walter Heider, Zeon Chemicals Europe Ltd, UK

SESSION 3: ADDITIVES, COMPOUNDING AND PROCESSING

A Processing Additive to Substitute Perfluorinated Types in Speciality Polymers
Karl Menting & Colin Clarke, Schill & Seilacher "Struktol" Aktiengesellschaft, Germany

Novel Compounding Technologies to Enhance the Performance of Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (HNBR)
Nick Sandland, Zeon Chemicals Europe Ltd, UK

Use of Diatomaceous Earth as a Functional Additive
Julian Danvers, World Minerals - Europe, France

Liquid Silicone Rubber: Ease of Processing is Cost Saving
Marco Pagliani & Hans Peter Wolf, Dow Corning GmbH, Germany

SESSION 4: NEW MATERIALS AND ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY

Liquid Silicone Rubber : New Materials for Todays Market Needs
Clemens Trumm, Stephan Bosshammer & Heinz Mller, GE Bayer Silicones GmbH & Co. KG, Germany

New Fluoroelastomer Nanocomposites Based on PTFE
Giovanni Comino, S. Arrigoni, A Staccione, M. Apostolo & M. Albano, Solvay Ausimont S.p.a. - R & D Center, Italy

A New Class of Unique High Performance Low Temperature Fluoroelastomers
Jrgen Steffens, Dyneon GmbH & Co. KG, Germany
PAPER UNAVAILABLE AT TIME OF PRINT

Liquid Perfluoroether Elastomer
Paul Uritani & Hirofumi Kishita, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd., USA

Fluororelastomer Made With Advanced Polymer Architecture Provides Benefits in Processing & End Use Properties - New Peroxide Curable Elastomer
Thomas Olma & Steve Bowers, Dupont-Dow Elastomers S.A., Germany

Structure and Properties of Chlorinated Polyethylenes and Higher Polyolefins
Grogory Ronkin, Scientific Research Institute "Syntex" - Moscow, Russia

SESSION 5: IMPROVING PRODUCT PERFORMANCE AND MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

A Finite Element Methodology to Predict Age-Related Mechanical Properties and Performance Changes in Elastomeric Seals
Jose Duarte,Gerhard Streit & Manfred Achenbach, Parker Hannifin GmbH, Germany

Improved Quality at Lower Costs - An Oxymoron
Thomas Kromminga, Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH, Germany

High Performance Elastomers in O Ring Apllications
Volker Peterseim & Ernst Osen, Freudenberg O-Ring Kg, Germany

How the Management of Technology Platforms has Helped an Elastomers Manufacturer achieve & secure the number 2 position in its Market Segment
Wolfram Keller, Pittiglio Rabin Todd & McGrath, UK