Reactions of 2-t-butylbenzothiazole sulfenamide with sulfur and zinc oxidein the absence of rubber

The interaction of sulfur, ZnO and 2-t-butylbenzothiazole sulfenamide (TBBS ) was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in the absenc e of rubber Special reference was made to the role of the amine, the distin guishing characteristic of all sulfenamides. TBBS decomposes rapidly at 211 degrees C, the major products being 2-bisbenzothiazole-2,2'-disulfide (MBT S) and 2-bisbenzothiazole-2,2'-monosulfide (MBTM). High mass losses occured and very little free amine was found at these high temperatures. The major degradation products of the TBBS/sulfur system were MBTS, 2-bisbenzothiazo le-2,2'-polysulfides (MBTP) and 2-t-butylaminobenzothiazole polysulfides (T BBP). Little free amine and very small mass losses were found. Reaction mec hanisms were proposed to account for the formation of the products.