Abstract: Described in one aspect is a process for preparing a low durometer thermoplastic vulcanizate composition comprising melt blending one or more thermoplastic polymer(s) with a cross-linkable elastomer under conditions of dynamic vulcanization; adding at or after the start of the melt blending at least one curative agent for the elastomer so as to cross-link the elastomer during the melt blending; introducing process oil into the melt blending before, during and/or after the addition of the curative agent; and, extruding a fully crosslinked thermoplastic vulcanizate having a Shore A Hardness of less than 25.

Abstract: A method for preparing a thermoplastic vulcanizate, the method comprising introducing an elastomer and a thermoplastic resin to a reaction extruder, where the elastomer is not prepared by gas-phase polymerization methods, and where less than 75 parts by weight oil, per 100 parts by weight elastomer, is added to the extruder with the elastomer, introducing a curative to the extruder after said step of introducing an elastomer, introducing an oil to the extruder after said step of introducing an elastomer but before or together with said step of introducing a curative, and introducing an oil to the extruder after said step of introducing a curative.