Abstract: In this paper the chlorinated polyethylene(CPE)elastomer is synthesized by a solid state method. Results show that the chlorine distribution of CPE prepared by the solid state method is more homogeneous than that of CPE prepared by an aqueous suspension method. The chlorine distribution in the molecular chain, the residual crystallinity and the chlorination speed are affected by the reaction temperature. The degree of chlorination on the surface and in the bulk of polyethylene grains depends on the chlorination speed. The chlorine substitution on the macro molecular chain obstructs the chlorination of neighboring H-atoms.

Key words: chlorinated polyethylene, solid state method, chlorination temperature, chlorination speed, residual crystallinity, chlorine distribution