What is accelerator in rubber vulcanization?

An accelerator is defined as the chemical added into a rubber compound to increase the speed of vulcanization and to permit vulcanization to proceed at lower temperature and with greater efficiency. Accelerator also Decreases the Quantity of Sulphur necessary for vulcanization and thus improving 'aged' properties of the rubber vulcanizates.

What are vulcanization accelerators & activators?

For sulfur yellow vulcanization systems, vulcanization accelerators and activators are essential. They can reduce the amount of sulfur yellow, shorten the vulcanization time, lower the vulcanization temperature, and at the same time improve the degree of vulcanization and the physicochemical properties of the vulcanized rubber.

How does vulcanization affect the performance of rubber products?

Vulcanization, as the key step in rubber process，directly affects the processing and performance of rubber products. Compared with sulfur alone, the presence of small amounts of accelerator together with sulfur can significantly improve the properties of final vulcanisate.

Should rubber vulcanization accelerators be discontinued?

With the rapid growth in global demand for rubber products, the safety and environmental concerns of rubber vulcanization accelerators are becoming more prominent, and many countries have decreed that the production and use of certain accelerators that are carcinogenic or suspected of being carcinogenic should be discontinued.

What is vulcanization reaction of rubber?

Vulcanization of rubber is a very complex physical and chemical reaction process, and the cross-linked structure created after vulcanization makes the vulcanized rubber insoluble in solvents, making it difficult to understand the mechanism of vulcanization reaction of rubber by common research methods.

What is the mechanism of rubber vulcanization with sulfur?

Many studies have been carried out to understand the mechanism of rubber vulcanization with sulfur in the presence of accelerators and activators. Vulcanization is the phenomenon of formation of cross links with rubber macromolecules.