Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE)

Overview

Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE) is a versatile elastomer known for excellent weather resistance, flame retardancy, and chemical stability. Manufacturers rely on it across cable jacketing, roofing membranes, and impact modification because it holds up under thermal, mechanical, and environmental stress better than many alternative elastomers.

Not all CPE is the same, however. Chlorine content, molecular weight, and crystallinity all affect how a given grade performs in your formulation. Below, explore our three CPE grades and find the right fit for your application.

Grade A CPE: Premium Weather and Ozone Resistance

Grade A CPE is formulated for products that typically live outdoors permanently. Its higher chlorine content and refined polymer structure give it superior resistance to UV degradation, ozone cracking, and thermal aging compared to standard-grade elastomers. Where other materials become brittle, chalky, or cracked after a few seasons of sun and temperature swings, Grade A CPE keeps its flexibility and mechanical integrity for years.

This grade also carries strong inherent flame retardancy, thanks to its chlorine backbone which is a critical property for wire and cable applications, where fire safety standards are non-negotiable. Unlike some flame-retardant systems that rely heavily on additive packages, CPE’s flame resistance is built into the polymer itself, which means it holds up better over the long service life of the product and resists the plasticizer migration that can compromise performance over time.

Key benefits:

• Excellent flexibility retention at low temperatures; resists stiffening and cracking in cold climates
• Outstanding flame resistance without heavy reliance on additives
• Minimal plasticizer migration, extending service life
• Strong resistance to ozone-induced surface cracking
• Long-term color and surface stability under UV exposure

Grade B CPE: Balanced Performance for Industrial Use

Grade B CPE is engineered for solid, dependable performance across general industrial rubber and plastics compounding. It offers a well-rounded property profile including good mechanical strength, smooth processing behavior, and reliable compatibility with the fillers, plasticizers, and other additives common in industrial rubber compounding.

Where Grade B really earns its place is in impact modification. When blended into PVC and other thermoplastics, CPE improves toughness and low-temperature impact resistance without significantly compromising other properties like tensile strength or processability. This makes it a go-to choice for compounders working on products that need to survive drops, knocks, and cold-weather handling such as pipe fittings, electrical boxes, and molded housings.

Key benefits:

• Good tensile strength and elongation for demanding mechanical applications
• Reliable compatibility with common fillers, plasticizers, and processing aids
• Consistent batch-to-batch quality suited to high-volume manufacturing
• Effective low-temperature impact modification for rigid thermoplastics
• Well-rounded mechanical and processing performance for everyday industrial use

Grade C CPE: Standard Compounding

Grade C CPE is formulated to deliver the core characteristics that make CPE valuable; flexibility, chemical resistance, and flame retardancy. It’s well suited to standard compounding work where consistent, reliable performance matters more than specialized weathering or impact properties.

This grade compounds easily with fillers and extenders, giving formulators flexibility in system design while maintaining solid mechanical performance. It’s particularly effective in filler-extended systems, where processability and consistency across large production runs are the priority.

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