NEWS

Direct Method | Indirect Method | Calcined Zinc Oxide | All Categories ZnO Manufacturer and Supplier

Do you know the use of zinc oxide in the vulcanization process?


Publish Time:

2023-02-21

Zinc oxide is often required in sulfur/accelerator vulcanization systems and is used in a variety of particle sizes, purity and potency. If the amount of zinc oxide is not sufficient, not only the physical and mechanical properties (modulus, compression change) are impaired, but also the resistance to vulcanization reversion is poor.

Do you know the use of zinc oxide in the vulcanization process?

Vulcanization activators are used as a third component to assist the crosslinker and accelerator, their role is to give the compound acceptable processing properties and to ensure better performance of the vulcanized rubber.

Zinc oxide must usually be added to sulfur/accelerator vulcanization systems and is available in a wide range of particle sizes, purity and potency.If the amount of zinc oxide is not sufficient, not only the physical and mechanical properties (modulus, compression change) are impaired, but also the resistance to vulcanization reversion is poor.With the increase of zinc oxide dosage, the sulfide reversion resistance increases rapidly at first, but then increases very slowly. In NR (conventional sulfur dosage + hyposulfamide accelerator), the sulfidation reversion resistance no longer increases after zinc oxide exceeds 4~5 parts.

Since zinc oxide is insoluble in rubber, its activity cannot be fully developed when used alone, but must be used with stearic acid to produce a zinc soap (a complex of stearic acid and zinc) that is soluble in rubber and then participate in the vulcanization reaction.Stearic acid has an activating effect, acting as an acid activator for the double bonds of rubber molecules, thus accelerating the generation of cross-linked bonds and increasing the cross-link density of vulcanized rubber in some vulcanization systems. In alkaline accelerators or their combined accelerator systems, it usually acts as a delayed sulphur initiation point.In addition to this, stearic acid improves the dispersion of the filler and also reduces the tendency of the compound to stick to the rollers. If the rubber is filled with a large amount of reinforcing carbon black, the amount of stearic acid can be up to 3 parts to help dispersion. However, when the amount of stearic acid is high, it will weaken the bonding performance of rubber and metal.

It is worth noting that zinc stearate, which is generated during the vulcanization process of zinc oxide and stearic acid, has a small solubility in satin rubber, so excessive use of stearic acid in rubber compounded with satin rubber can cause frost spraying.
 

keyword:

Zinc oxide