EFFECT OF ZINC DITHIOCARBAMATES AND THIAZOLE-BASED ACCELERATORS ON THE VULCANIZATION OF NATURAL RUBBER

Abstract

Several zinc dithiocarbamates (ZDCs) as accelerator derived from safe amine has been exclusively studied in the presence of thiazole-based accelerators to introduce safe dithiocarbamate in the vulcanization of natural rubber. Comparison has been made between conventional unsafe zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate (ZDMC) with safe novel ZDC combined with thizole-based accelerators in the light of mechanical properties. The study reveals that thiuram disulfide and 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) are always formed from the reaction either between ZDC and dibenzothiazyledisulfide (MBTS) or between ZDC and N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazole sulfenamide (CBS). It has been conclusively proved that MBT generated from MBTS or CBS reacts with ZDC and produces tetramethylthiuram disulfide. The observed synergistic activity has been discussed based on the cure and physical data and explained through the results based on high-performance liquid chromatography and a reaction mechanism. Synergistic activity is observed in all binary systems studied. The highest tensile strength is observed in the zinc (N-benzyl piperazino) dithiocarbamate-accelerated system at 3:6 mM ratios. In respect of tensile strength and modulus value, unsafe ZDMC can be successfully replaced by safe ZDCs in combination with thiazole group containing accelerator.