Study of the decomposition mechanism of vulcanization accelerators by EPR using a radical “trap”

Abstract

EPR using a radical “trap” was used to study the decomposition of vulcanization accelerators under the action of temperature, UV radiation and electron donors. An assumption was made concerning the possible location of homolytic rupture of bonds during the decomposition of accelerators. It was shown that, according to the rate of thermal decomposition, accelerators can be arranged in the following order: tetramethylthiuram disulphide > tetramethylthiuram monosulphide > zinc diethyldithiocarbamate; electron donors considerably accelerate decomposition.