Millathane® 55 and Millathane 55M (Premilled)

Millathane 55 is a sulfur, peroxide or isocyanate curable polyether millable polyurethane rubber used
for the production of rubber covered rollers, belting and other molded articles. Millathane 55 gives
excellent strength and abrasion resistance properties, especially in sulfur cured compounds, and has
very good processing characteristics. Compared to Millathane E34, Millathane 55 gives lower viscosity
and higher hardness compounds (especially in sulfur cured compounds).
Product Description
Chemical Composition: Synthetic rubber based on Ether/MDI polyurethane
Specific Gravity: Approximately 1.04
Storage stability: 3 years from date of manufacture (stored under dry and cool conditions)
Part Number Mooney Viscosity Appearance Package size/carton
ML(1+4)/100º C
Pale to dark amber
M-0055-35 (Virgin) 25 – 45 38 pounds (17.2 kg)
solid bales
Pale to dark amber
M-0055M-35 (Premilled) 30 - 40 50 pounds (22.7 kg)
solid sheets
Processing
Millathane 55 is processed by techniques which are common to the rubber industry: Compounds can
be mixed on an open mill or in an internal mixer. Premilled sheets may be easier for small mill mixing.
Molded articles can be produced via compression, transfer or injection molding; calendered sheets
can be press- or roto-cured. See publication TIPS V2-1 for more information on mixing and
processing.
Properties
Vulcanizates based on Millathane 55 can be produced in hardnesses ranging from approximately 50
to 98 Shore A, and offer high strength properties, excellent abrasion resistance, water resistance and
good oil resistance. Compounds have low brittle points, but will tend to increase in hardness at low
temperatures, due to crystallization. Millathane CM and Millathane E40 are better for resistance to low
temperature crystallization.
Applications
A major application of Millathane 55 is in rubber covered rollers, due to its very good processing
characteristics, strength properties and abrasion resistance. It is also used in various molded articles
and can be used in articles such as belting, industrial wheels, seals, footwear and other applications.
Compounding
Reinforcing Fillers
Reinforcing fillers like N220 or N330 carbon black or precipitated silica increase the mechanical
strength of Millathane 55 compounds. Fumed silicas such as Wacker HDK N20 or Cabosil M-5 will
give somewhat higher reinforcement than precipitated silicas and will give translucent cured
compounds (depending on other ingredients). Silane coupling agents like Silquest A-189 or Si 69 for
sulfur cures, or Silquest Y-15866, RC-1, or A172 for peroxide cures, will generally improve the tear
strength and set properties of silica-reinforced compounds and are typically used at about 2% of the
mineral filler content. Clay, talc and calcium carbonate can also be used as fillers to modify properties
and processing, but are less reinforcing than silicas and blacks.

Millathane® 55 bulletin_R2 October 4, 2020 Page 1 of 4

The recommendations for the use of our products are based on tests believed to be reliable. However, we do not guarantee the results to be
obtained by others under different conditions. Nothing in this literature is intended as a recommendation to use our products so as to infringe on
any patent. Millathane® and Thanecure® are registered trademarks of TSE Industries, Inc.
Plasticizers
TP-95 (DBEEA) is a plasticizer that is very compatible with Millathane millable polyurethanes, with
compounds containing 25 phr and more usually not showing signs of bleeding or incompatibility. Other
plasticizers such as Mediaplast NB-4 and Benzoflex 9-88SG can also be used to plasticize and soften
compounds. The antistatic plasticizer Struktol AW-1 can be used to a limited extent, to lower surface
resistivity, but may tend to bleed at levels over 10 parts.

Antidegradants
Polyurethanes are generally very resistant to ozone and oxygen attack because of their saturated
polymer backbones (like EPDM). Small amounts (0.5-2 phr) of antioxidants like Naugard 445 and
Irganox 1010 can provide some benefit to the heat aging characteristics of peroxide-cured Millathane
55 compounds.

Process Aids
Small amounts of process aids are normally used to prevent sticking to processing equipment and to
improve flow during molding. For sulfur-cured compounds, the 0.5 phr of zinc stearate used as an
activator is usually adequate. For more release, 0.5-2 phr of another process aid such as Struktol
WB222 or Vanfre AP-2 can be used. For peroxide cures, 0.2-0.5 phr of stearic acid is used in place of
the zinc stearate. A low molecular weight polyethylene like AC617A, added at 1-4 phr, gives good
release for calendering and molding.

Curing Agents
The best physical properties and abrasion resistance are achieved with sulfur cures, while the best
compression set, heat aging and reversion resistance come from peroxide cures. The sulfur cure
system is a combination of MBTS (4 phr), MBT (2 phr), Thanecure® ZM (1 phr) and sulfur (1.5-2.0
phr), along with zinc stearate (0.5 phr), used as an activator.

Peroxide cures can be used for better set and heat aging characteristics. Typical peroxides used are
dicumyl peroxide and DBPH, typically used at about 0.6 – 1.2 phr active peroxide (1.5 – 3.0 phr of
40% active). The use of low levels of coagents such as triallyl cyanurate (TAC) and trifunctional
methacrylates like SR350 (TMTPMA) increase the crosslink density and improve compression set.
Blends of the difunctional methacrylate SR231 (DEGDMA) with the trifunctional methacrylate SR350
are recommended for high hardness compounds, as the blend gives a good balance of strength
properties, elongation and set. High crosslink densities, seen with high peroxide and/or coagent levels,
will improve compression set but strength properties and elongation may be adversely affected.

Millathane 55 can also be cured with the isocyanate cure system (a combination of Thanecure® T9SF,
HQEE, and accelerator), which gives excellent tensile and tear strengths at high hardnesses. Consult
TSE for guidance on using this cure system, as there are some significant differences between it and
sulfur and peroxide cure systems.

Vulcanization Conditions
Sulfur-cured Millathane 55 compounds are typically molded at temperatures of 150º - 165ºC; higher
temperatures can give poor cures due to reversion. Peroxide-cured compounds can be cured from
145°-175ºC, depending on the peroxide, dimensions of the part etc. Isocyanate-cured compounds are
typically cured at 120°-135°C.

Rubber covered rollers are often cured in steam or electric autoclaves, under pressure, at 130°-155°C
for 1-6 hours (very large rolls for longer times at lower temperatures), depending on the compound
and roll geometry. See publication TIPS V2-4 for additional information on autoclave curing.

Millathane® 55 bulletin_R2 October 4, 2020 Page 2 of 4

The recommendations for the use of our products are based on tests believed to be reliable. However, we do not guarantee the results to be
obtained by others under different conditions. Nothing in this literature is intended as a recommendation to use our products so as to infringe on
any patent. Millathane® and Thanecure® are registered trademarks of TSE Industries, Inc.
Formulation Examples

61 Shore A Black Molding or Roller Compound, Peroxide Cured

Millathane® 55 100.0 Press Cured Properties, Cured 9 min/160ºC

Stearic Acid 0.25 Hardness Shore A 61
N330 Black 25.0 TSE-100*, psi (MPa) 238 (1.6)
TP-95 2.0 TSE-300, psi (MPa) 1115 (7.7)
Struktol WB-222 1.0 Tensile strength, psi (MPa) 2740 (18.9)
Irganox 1010 0.5 Elongation, % 530
SR-350 1.0 Tear Die C, lb/in (kN/m) 126 (22.1)
DiCup 40C 2.0 Tear Die B, lb/in (kN/m) 278 (48.7)
Bashore Resilience, % 54
Compression set, 22hr/70ºC, % set 25
DIN Abrasion, mm³ loss 92
Heat aging, 70 hr/70°C
Hardness change, Shore A pts. +2
Tensile strength, % change +21
Elongation, % change 0

73 Shore A Non-Black Molding or Roller Compound, Sulfur Cured

Millathane® 55 100.0 Press Cured Properties, Cured 14 min/160ºC

Zinc Stearate 0.50 Hardness Shore A 73
HiSil 243LD 25.0 TSE-100, psi (MPa) 440 (3.0)
Silquest A189 0.5 TSE-300, psi (MPa) 1530 (10.6)
TP-95 3.0 Tensile strength, psi (MPa) 3710 (25.6)
Carbowax 3350 2.0 Elongation, % 510
Struktol WB-222 1.0 Tear Die C, lb/in (kN/m) 252 (44.1)
AC617A 2.0 Tear Die B, lb/in (kN/m) 297 (86.5)
MBTS 4.0 Bashore Resilience, % 48
MBT 2.0 Compression set, 22hr/70ºC, % set 62
Thanecure® ZM 1.0 DIN Abrasion, mm³ loss 55
Sulfur, 80% active 2.5

94 Shore A Non-Black, Isocyanate-Cured Compound

Millathane® 55 100.0 Press Cured Properties, Cured 20 min/130ºC

Stearic acid 0.30 Hardness Shore A 94
Thanecure® T9SF 20.0 Hardness Shore D 44
HQEE 6.8 TSE-100, psi (MPa) 885 (6.1)
Bismate 0.3 TSE-300, psi (MPa) 1175 (8.1)
Irganox 1076 1.0 Tensile strength, psi (MPa) 3990 (27.5)
Elongation, % 660
Tear Die C, lb/in (kN/m) 337 (59.0)
Tear Die B, lb/in (kN/m) 385 (67.4)
DIN Abrasion, mm³ loss (rotating) 52
*TSE-XXX= Tensile Stress at XXX Elongation (a.k.a., “Modulus”)

Millathane® 55 bulletin_R2 October 4, 2020 Page 3 of 4

The recommendations for the use of our products are based on tests believed to be reliable. However, we do not guarantee the results to be
obtained by others under different conditions. Nothing in this literature is intended as a recommendation to use our products so as to infringe on
any patent. Millathane® and Thanecure® are registered trademarks of TSE Industries, Inc.
Adhesion to Metal
Millable polyurethanes generally have very good adhesion to metal, and adhesives from several
manufacturers give excellent bonding. Below are results of testing done by adhesive manufacturer on
bonding a sulfur-cured, silica reinforced Millathane E34 compound to steel (results would be expected
to be similar for Millathane 55). All the adhesives shown gave excellent bonding to the Millathane
compound.

Adhesive Adhesion Failure

Ty-Ply BN¹ 111 lb/in [19.4 N/mm] Rubber Failure 100%
Chemlok 218¹ 128 lb/in [22.4 N/mm] Rubber Failure 100%
Cilbond 49SF+Cilcure B² 115 lb/in [20.2 N/mm] Rubber Failure 100%
Thixon 715-1/720:MEK 1:1³ 106 lb/in [18.6 N/mm] Rubber Failure 100%

Other adhesives that have been used successfully and/or recommended for use for bonding to metal
are:
Megum 15637³ for bonding to metal.
Chemlok 213¹, Chemlok 218¹ and Chemlok 219¹ for bonding to Aluminum and steel.
Chemlok 250¹ and Thixon³ 405 for bonding during injection molding.
¹Lord Corporation, ²Chemical Innovations Ltd. (CIL), ³Dow Chemical

Additional Information
Visit our web site (www.tse-industries.com or www.millathane.com) for information on Millathane 55
and other Millathane grades, as well as technical studies, TIPS and SDS documents, and other
information. Inquiries can be sent to millathaneinfo@tseind.com.

Ingredients Description Supplier/Manufacturer

AC617A Low molecular weight polyethylene Honeywell
Benzoflex 9-88SG Dipropylene glycol dibenzoate Eastman Chemical
Bismate Bismuth dimethyldithiocarbamate Vanderbilt Chemicals
Cabosil M-5 Fumed silica, surface area 200 m²/g Cabot Corporation
Di-Cup 40C Dicumyl Peroxide, 40% Arkema Inc.
HQEE Hydroquinone bis(2-hydroxyethyl) ether (ground) Various
Irganox 1010 Antioxidant Ciba Specialty Chemicals
Mediaplast NB-4 Adipine acid plasticizer Kettlitz-Chemie
Naugard 445 Antioxidant Chemtura
Si 69 Silane Coupling Agent Evonik
Silquest RC-1, A172, Momentive Performance
Silane Coupling Agents
A-189, Y-15866 Materials
SR231 Diethyleneglycol Dimethacrylate (DEGDMA) Sartomer/Arkema
SR350 Trimethylol propane Trimethacrylate (TMPTMA) Sartomer/Arkema
Struktol AW-1 Antistatic plasticizer Struktol Corporation
Struktol WB-222 Process aid Struktol Corporation
Thanecure® T9SF TDI Dimer TSE Industries, Inc.
Thanecure® ZM MBTS/Zinc chloride complex TSE Industries, Inc.
TP-95 Di (butoxy-ethoxy-ethyl) adipate (DBEEA) Hallstar
Ultrasil VN3 Precipitated silica Evonik
Vanfre AP-2 Process aid Vanderbilt Chemicals
Varox DBPH-50 2,5-Dimethyl-2,5-di(t-butylperoxy)hexane, 50% Vanderbilt Chemicals
Wacker HDK N20 Fumed silica, surface area 200 m²/g Wacker Silicones

Millathane® 55 bulletin_R2 October 4, 2020 Page 4 of 4

The recommendations for the use of our products are based on tests believed to be reliable. However, we do not guarantee the results to be
obtained by others under different conditions. Nothing in this literature is intended as a recommendation to use our products so as to infringe on
any patent. Millathane® and Thanecure® are registered trademarks of TSE Industries, Inc.