Tetramethylthiuram disulfide and 2‐mercaptobenzothiazole as binary accelerators in sulfur vulcanization. II. Exchange reactions between the accelerators and their zinc salts in the absence of rubber

Abstract

AbstractExchange reactions between tetramethylthiuram disulfide, 2‐mercaptobenzothiazole, and sulfur in the presence of ZnO were studied by heating powdered mixes to vulcanization temperatures at a preprogrammed rate in a DSC. The reaction was stopped at points along the thermal curve and the mixture was analyzed. Sulfide exchange reactions between the accelerators leads to a mixed accelerator and dimethyldithiocarbamic acid that is trapped by ZnO to give the zinc accelerator complex bis(dimethyldithiocarbamato)zinc (II). Exchange also occurs between the accelerators and ligands on both the thiuram and benzothiazole zinc accelerator complexes. Zinc complexes containing ligands of both accelerators were synthesized. These showed little interaction on being heated with sulfur, but on dissolution yielded a spectrum of products similar to that obtained in the other system containing zinc. Reactions to account for changes in the spectrum of products on heating different mixes of these curatives to different temperatures are discussed. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.