Balanced crosslink network created in natural rubber by using sulphenamide/tetrabenzyl thiuram disulphide cure system

The durability of rubber goods often requires heat resistance in combinatio n with good dynamic properties and adequate oxygen/ozone resistance. A prop er balance of the network is important for flex and heat aging properties. The use of a binary system of accelerators such as sulfenamide and a common ly used thiuram such as Tetramethyl thiuram disulphide (TMTD) improves cure efficiency but suffers from an adverse effect on scorch and flex related p roperties. In this article, the possibility of an N-nitrosamine safe thiura m, Tetrabenzyl thiuram disulphide (TBzTD), is explored to obtain an improve ment in cure efficiency together with a balanced network in typical natural rubber compounds. A network study has been carried out in order to correla te cured properties to the fine structure of the vulcanizates.