| Abstract: | This study embodies the results and discussion of a comprehensive and systematic investigation of the mechanism of sulfuration of styrene–butadiene rubber accelerated by N-cyclohexylbenzothiazole-2-sulfenamide (CBS) with and without activators. Dicumyl peroxide (DCP) has been taken as a chemical aid to distinguish between free-radical and polar mechanisms of sulfuration. The rate constant for DCP decomposition in presence of CBS and the reduction in crosslink density by CBS have also been studied. With a constant amount of DCP and sulfur the crosslink density increases with increasing CBS concentration. In the presence of ZnO and stearic acid, crosslinking proceeds faster than in a similar system without these ingredients, and with DCP the crosslinks are found to be formed nearly additively as confirmed by methyl iodide treatment of the vulcanizates. In the absence of DCP, the crosslinking is characterized by an induction period, even in presence of ZnO and stearic acid. In the presence of sulfur, the 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MSH) or amine or amine salt form crosslinkins by ionic reaction. |
