Styrene-butadiene rubber chemical activity

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. 

Although natural rubber (crepe) and nitrile rubber soles (common in the manufacturing of safety shoes due to its chemical inertness) are used, sulfur vulcanized styrene-butadiene (SBR) rubbers are the most common sole materials. The vulcanization system contains sulfur and activators (N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazole suffenamide, dibenzothiazyl disulfide, hexamethylene tetramine, zinc oxide) and fillers (silica and/or carbon black, calcium... 

Rubber grade 1,3-butadiene was purchased from the Phillips Petroleum Company. Two columns, one packed with the potassium form of a sulfonic acid ion exchange resin (Dowex MSC-l-K) and the other packed with an activated alumina, were used to purify the butadiene. Isoprene was purchased from Aldrich Chemical Company. Stabilizer-free styrene monomer was obtained directly from the Dow styrene monomer plant. Alpha-methylstyrene (AMS) was purchased from U.S. Steel Corporation. The last three monomers were all purified by passing through a column packed with activated alumina and then vacuum distilled over calcium hydride. 

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