Quinoid Curing of Butyl and Natural Rubbers
Abstract The vulcanization of butyl and natural rubbers by p-dinitrosobenzene (DNB), p-quinone dioxime (GMF) and p-quinone dioxime dibenzoate (dibenzo GMF) oxidized by various oxidants was investigated. Good curing efficiency (E=1.2) was achieved for a butyl system containing GMF or dibenzo GMF oxidized by red lead (Pb3O4). It was estimated that about 85% of the combined quinoid agent was in the form of crosslinks and the remaining 15% might be present as pendant groups. In contrast to butyl rubber, NR could also be cured slowly by GMF or dibenzo GMF alone. Simple ZnO or PbO was effective in activating dibenzo GMF to produce quinoid-NR vulcanizates with good scorch safety. But the highest crosslink density was obtained from equimolar dibenzo GMF/Pb3O4. Low crosslinking efficiency (E=3–6) was generally observed in the quinoid-NR systems. Quinoid vulcanization mechanisms are discussed. The crosslinks consist mainly of the anil structure in the butyl system, while azoxy crosslinks might also be present in the NR system.