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I am working with Epichlorohydrin and Chloroprene Rubbers and I would like to cast films of 2 mm at most. The solvents I have in my lab are DMSO, THF, DMF, Acetone, Ethanol and Propylene Carbonate. Has anyone made films with these rubbers/elastomers?
Update: I have dissolved epichlorohydrin rubber in Acetone, but the casted films are easily deformed when removing from my casting dish. Now the only challenge is how I can cure them in an acetone medium
Regarding chloroprene rubber, a friend dug up the following information: CR is synthesized by polymerization in aqueous solution and can be purchased as a latex. That solution is alkaline because it tends to give off $\ce{HCl}$ in storage. The solid is described as 'soluble in aromatic solvents', but the gel component may be insoluble.
Source is: Handbuch für die Gummi-Industrie, edited by Bayer AG, Geschäftsbereich Kautschuk. 1991.
For chloroprene (neoprene), you might try chlorinated solvents, e.g., methyl chloride (chloromethane).
Epichlorohydrin has "Inferior resistance to oxygenated solvents," according to River Rubber. That's a bit vague: diethyl ether? acetone? toluene? Tahco Rubber also states it has poor resistance to chlorinated solvents.
BTW, epichlorohydrin rubber is slow to vulcanize.
