Covulcanisation of natural rubber and chlorobutyl rubber. Effect of curative diffusion between phases and ZnCl 2 addition

Abstract

Natural rubber (NR) and chlorobutyl rubber (CIIR) were compounded with various formulations containing tetramethylthiuram disulphide (TMTD), sulphur, and ZnO, and masterbatches of these compounds were blended in a 70: 30 NR/CIIR ratio and vulcanised in a press at 150°C. Crosslink densities of vulcanisates were determined by swelling and tensile properties measured. In formulations in which the concentration gradient permitted the diffusion of TMTD and sulphur to a CIIR phase containing ZnO, tensile strengths were slightly better than 70% of the values of NR compounds of similar crosslink densities. In formulations in which TMTD and sulphur diffused to the faster curing NR phase, blend properties were also better than 70% of those of NR compounds, but at higher crosslink densities, tensile strengths and elongation at break decreased in parallel. This was attributed to failure in a layer of more highly crosslinked material formed within the NR phase close to the interface. Although ZnCl₂ can crosslink CIIR to NR, thus ensuring good interfacial bonding, the addition of ZnCl₂ to the CIIR masterbatch led to attack on the TMTD accelerator and a significant reduction in crosslink density and tensile properties of blends.