Scorch-resistant, curable fluorinated elastomer

A scorch-resistant, curable, fluorinated elastomer gum composition is provided. A free-radically curable, fluorinated elastomer gum is compounded with an aliphatically unsaturated, diorganosulfur compound in which at least one of the organo moieties contains a beta , gamma -aliphatically unsaturated moiety having at least one hydrogen atom bonded to the alpha carbon atom of said moiety, said carbon atom being bonded to a sulfur atom of the compound. The diorganosulfur compound reduces the tendency of the compounded fluorinated elastomers gum to scorch, i.e. begin curing prematurely, in the presence of a free-radical curing agent during compounding and shaping of the gum at elevated temperatures below the intended cure temperature. Specific examples of said compounds include 2,5-dihydrothiophene-1,1-dioxide, 2,5-dihydrothiophene-1-oxide, and diallylsulfide. Methods of compounding a fluorinated elastomer gum composition and of shaping and curing such a composition to obtain a fluorinated elastomeric article are also provided.