Alkylphenol Disulfide Polymer Accelerators and the Vulcanization of Isobutylene Based Elastomers

Abstract

Abstract Vulcanization of isobutylene/isoprene copolymer (butyl rubber) using sulfur and organic accelerators is facilitated by the presence of the carbon-carbon double bond in the copolymer isoprenyl unit. The low number of unsaturated monomer units, usually in the order of 2%, has traditionally necessitated use of ultra-fast accelerators such as tetramethyl thiuram disulfide (TMTD) or zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate (ZMDC). Use of such accelerators can result in formation of nitrosamines which may be undesirable. There are a number of alternatives to thiuram and dithiocarbamate cure systems such as use of xanthates and phosphate based accelerators. Alkylphenol disulfide based accelerators also enable attainment of favorable properties when used in butyl and halobutyl compounds. Use of alkylphenol disulfide accelerators in butyl rubber compounds can allow improvement in reversion resistance, adhesion to natural rubber tire casing compounds, and aged property retention. In bromobutyl compounds containing alkylphenol disulfide accelerators in binary (two accelerators) or tertiary (three accelerators) cure systems, adjustment in cure rate to meet specific requirements and aged property retention is possible. This, fifth in a series of studies on the vulcanization of isobutylene elastomers, explores the use of alkylphenol disulfide cure systems for vulcanization of both butyl and bromobutyl rubbers and is intended to provide a starting point for further development work.