Styrene-butadiene rubber accelerated sulfur vulcanization

The accelerated sulfur vulcanization of general-purpose diene rubbers (e.g., NR, styrene-butadiene rubber [SBR], and butadiene rubber [BR]) by sulfur in the presence of organic accelerators and other rubbers, which are vulcanized by closely related technology (e.g., ethylene-propylene-diene monomer [EPDM] mbber, butyl rubber [HR], halobutyl mbber [XIIR], nitrile rubber [NBR]) comprises more than 90% of all vulcanizations. 

Accelerated-sulfur vulcanization is the most widely used method. For many applications, it is the only rapid crossUnking technique that can, in a practical manner, give the delayed action required for processing, shaping, and forming before the formation of the intractable vulcanized network. It is used to vulcanize natural rubber (NR), synthetic isoprene rubber (IR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), nitrile rubber (NBR), butyl rubber (HR), chlorobutyl rubber (ClIR), bromobutyl rubber (BUR), and ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer rubber (EPDM). The reactive moiety for all of these elastomers can be represented by... 

Nitrile polymers are vulcanized in essentially the same manner as styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and natural rubber. The same ingredients are used, although not necessarily in the same amounts. Sulfur is less soluble in nitrile rubber than in SBR or natural rubber, and smaller amounts are used. A corresponding increase in accelerator is required. Sulfur/accelerator, sulfur donor, and peroxide cures are chosen depending on the ultimate processing methods and applications. 

Rubber. The mbber industry consumes finely ground metallic selenium and Selenac (selenium diethyl dithiocarbamate, R. T. Vanderbilt). Both are used with natural mbber and styrene—butadiene mbber (SBR) to increase the rate of vulcanization and improve the aging and mechanical properties of sulfudess and low sulfur stocks. Selenac is also used as an accelerator in butyl mbber and as an activator for other types of accelerators, eg, thiazoles (see Rubber chemicals). Selenium compounds are useflil as antioxidants (qv), uv stabilizers, (qv), bonding agents, carbon black activators, and polymerization additives. Selenac improves the adhesion of polyester fibers to mbber. 

A typical tire rubber formulation for tire tread will contain various rubbers, mainly styrene-butadiene (50%) and cA-polybutadiene (12%), various processing aids (2%), softeners (3%), vulcanizing agent (mainly sulfur 1%), accelerators, and reinforcing filler (namely carbon black 30%) so that by bulk, carbon black is the second most used material. 

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