Thiuram

Piperidines. A significant use of piperidine (18) has been ia the manufacture of vulcanization accelerators, eg, thiuram disulfide [120-54-7] (115) (see Rubber chemicals). Mepiquat dichloride [24307-26-4] the dimethyl quaternary salt of (18), is used as a plant growth regulator for cotton (qv). Piperidine is used to make vasodilators such as dipyridamole [58-32-2] (116) and minoxidil [38304-91-5] (117), and diuretics such as etozoline [73-09-6] (118). 

Thiuram Sulfides. These compounds, (8) and (9), are an important class of accelerator. Thiurams are produced by the oxidation of sodium dithiocarbamates. The di- and polysulfides can donate one or more atoms of sulfur from their molecular stmcture for vulcanization. The use of these compounds at relatively high levels with litde or no elemental sulfur provides articles with improved heat resistance. The short-chain (methyl and ethyl) thiurams and dithiocarbamates ate priced 2/kg. Producers have introduced ultra-accelerators based on longer-chain and branched-chain amines that are less volatile and less toxic. This development is also motivated by a desire to rninirnize airborne nitrosamines. 

Sulfur Donors. MBSS, DPTH, and the thiuram disulfides (see Table 2) ate examples. The morpholine disulfide and caprolactam disulfide examples in Table 4 can also donate one atom of sulfur from their molecular stmcture for cross-linking purposes. Monosulfide cross-links provide better thermal stabiUty than the sulfur—sulfur bonds in di- and polysulfide cross-links, which predominate when elemental sulfur is used. 

Dimercapto-l,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives, accelerated by amines, are used to cross-link chlorinated polyethylene. Polyisobutylene containing brominated i ra-methylstyrene cure functionahty can be cross-linked in polymer blends with dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives accelerated with thiuram disulfides. Trithiocyanuric acid is suggested for use in polyacrylates containing a chlorine cure site and in epichlorohydrin mbbers. 

Fig. 4. Accelerator synergism where A is tetra-/ro-butyl thiuram disulfide and B is zinc di-/ro-butyl dithiocarbamate. To convert MPa to psi, multiply by 145.

It is common practice in the mbber industry for a compounder to use combinations of several accelerators in developing a cure system. Typically these cure systems are comprised of a primary accelerator and one or more secondary types. Primary accelerators are generally the thiazole and sulfenamide classes the secondary types (kickers) are the thiurams, dithiocarbamates, guanidines, and to a much lesser extent, certain amines and the dialkylphosphorodithioates (20). 

Fig. 5. Cure characteristics of accelerators A, thiuram B, dithiocarbamate C, sulfenamide D, thiazole and E, guanidine. The induction period represents...

As a general rule the sulfenamides exhibit faster cure rate than the thiazoles. If secondary accelerators are used, dithiocarbamates are scorchiest and give the fastest cure followed by the thiurams, then the guanidines. Figure 6 summarizes these comparisons to show a series of natural mbber (NR) recipes using either a thiazole (MBTS) or sulfenamide (TBBS) primary accelerator in combination with the various secondary accelerators (21). In this study, the initial primary accelerator levels were selected to produce nearly equivalent modulus or state of cure in the NR. 

Rubber Chemicals. Sodium nitrite is an important raw material in the manufacture of mbber processing chemicals. Accelerators, retarders, antioxidants (qv), and antiozonants (qv) are the types of compounds made using sodium nitrite. Accelerators, eg, thiuram [137-26-8J, greatly increase the rate of vulcaniza tion and lead to marked improvement in mbber quaUty. Retarders, on the other hand (eg, /V-nitrosodiphenylamine [156-10-5]) delay the onset of vulcanization but do not inhibit the subsequent process rate. Antioxidants and antiozonants, sometimes referred to as antidegradants, serve to slow the rate of oxidation by acting as chain stoppers, transfer agents, and peroxide decomposers. A commonly used antioxidant is A/,AT-disubstituted Nphenylenediamine which can employ sodium nitrite in its manufacture (see Rubber chemicals). 

Accelerators are chemical compounds that iacrease the rate of cure and improve the physical properties of the compound. As a class, they are as important as the vulcanising agent itself. Without the accelerator, curing requires hours or even days to achieve acceptable levels. Aldehyde amines, thiocarbamates, thiuram sulfides, guanidines, and thiasoles are aU. classified as accelerators. By far, the most widely used are the thiasoles, represented by mercaptobensothiasole (MBT) and bensothiasyl disulfide (MBTS). 

Monomer conversion (79) is followed by measuring the specific gravity of the emulsion. The polymerization is stopped at 91% conversion (sp gr 1.069) by adding a xylene solution of tetraethylthiuram disulfide. The emulsion is cooled to 20°C and aged at this temperature for about 8 hours to peptize the polymer. During this process, the disulfide reacts with and cleaves polysulfide chain segments. Thiuram disulfide also serves to retard formation of gel polymer in the finished dry product. After aging, the alkaline latex is acidified to pH 5.5—5.8 with 10% acetic acid. This effectively stops the peptization reaction and neutralizes the rosin soap (80). 

Curing Systems. Polychloroprene can be cured with many combiaations of metallic oxides, organic accelerators, and retarders (114). The G family of polymers, containing residual thiuram disulfide, can be cured with metallic oxides alone, although certain properties, for example compression set, can be enhanced by addition of an organic accelerator. The W, T, and xanthate modified families require addition of an organic accelerator, often ia combination with a cure retarder, for practical cures. 

Accelerators may be added to improve the physical properties of the polymer when needed. Where high modulus or low oil swell is required, thiocarbanihde is the preferred accelerator, with a cure time of 60 min at 100°C. Tetraethyl thiuram disulfide and sodium dibutyl dithiocarbamate are preferred for high tensile strength and cured at 121°C. 

Organic phosphates Tetramethyl thiuram monosulphide and disulphide... 

Tetramethyl succinonitrile Tetramethyl thiourea Tetramethyl thiuram disulphide (thiram) Tetranitromethane... 

During World War II, polychloroprene was chosen as a replacement for natural rubber because of its availability. Two copolymers of chloroprene and sulphur which contain thiuram disulphide were available (Neoprene GN and CG). One of the first successful applications of these polychloroprene adhesives was for temporary and permanent sole attachment in the shoe industry. However, these polychloroprene cements show a decrease in viscosity on ageing and a black discolouration appears during storage in steel drums. Discolouration was produced by trace amounts of hydrochloric acid produced by oxidation of polychloroprene... 

During emulsion polymerization, a high conversion of monomer to polymer produces cross-linked rubber which is insoluble. To obtain a high conversion in the polymerization reaction and a processable polymer, suitable polymer modification should be made. The use of sulphur moieties allows this goal to be reached [2]. Sulphur-modified polychloroprenes contain di- and polysulphide sequences in the polymer chains. After the polymerization reaches the desired degree, reaction is stopped by adding thiuram disulphide ... 

These polymers are very sensitive to mastication. Mastication decreases the solution viscosity and increases the ease of solution. Because the reactive sulphur linkages, rapid vulcanizing properties are obtained. On the other hand, the presence of thiuram disulphide improves the resistance of CR to dehydrochlorination. 

Although there are several manufacturers of polychloroprene elastomers, Du Pont probably has the broader range of polychloroprene grades on the market. As an example in Table 3, the equivalencies between the peptizables sulphur-modified and stabilized with thiuram disulphide polychloroprenes are given... 

Peptizables grade polychloroprenes, sulphur-modified and stabilized with thiuram disulphide... 

The Goodyear vulcanization process takes hours or even days to be produced. Accelerators can be added to reduce the vulcanization time. Accelerators are derived from aniline and other amines, and the most efficient are the mercaptoben-zothiazoles, guanidines, dithiocarbamates, and thiurams (Fig. 32). Sulphenamides can also be used as accelerators for rubber vulcanization. A major change in the sulphur vulcanization was the substitution of lead oxide by zinc oxide. Zinc oxide is an activator of the accelerator system, and the amount generally added in rubber formulations is 3 to 5 phr. Fatty acids (mainly stearic acid) are also added to avoid low curing rates. Today, the cross-linking of any unsaturated rubber can be accomplished in minutes by heating rubber with sulphur, zinc oxide, a fatty acid and the appropriate accelerator. 

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