Vulcanization of Elastomers. 25. Natural Rubber and Synthetic Elastomers with Sulfur and Sulfenamides. I

Abstract

Abstract The sulfur vulcanization of Perbunan N 2818 (acrylonitrile-butadiene) was investigated in the presence of N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazolylsulfenamide (CZ) at different temperatures and various concentrations of reactants. The following were found : 1. The decreasing sulfur concentration vs. time plot followed the 0.8th order under all experimental conditions and an activation energy of 28.2 kcal/mole was calculated. 2. When using the cyclohexylammonium salt of MBT as accelerator, sulfur decrease proceeds at the same rate as with CZ. 3. It was concluded from 1 and 2 that even in the presence of CZ, the ammonium salt was the actual accelerator, which forms during the scorch or induction period through reaction of CZ with the rubber. 4. In view of the discrepancy found in the relation of reaction order with respect to time and concentration of reactants, the formation of a reactive intermediate is postulated; the analogy between the kinetics of sulfenamide accelerated sulfur vulcanization, and those accelerated with MBT as well as DPG is pointed out. 5. In connection with 3 the dependence of starting rate as well as rate constant of 0.8th order of the decreasing sulfur concentration on the molar ratio of CZ/S8 and on the sulfur starting concentration is discussed.