Sartomer Products For Accelerated Sulfer Vulcanization

Sartomer Company has been highly regarded for many years as a manufacturer of coagents that are used for increasing the cure rate and state of cure for peroxide-cured compounds. Recently, however, Sartomer has developed new cure technologies for accelerated sulfur vulcanization. Many of the products valued for their role as coagents in peroxidecured compounds also provide benefits in sulfurcured systems. While the chemistry is quite different, many liquid monomers, liquid polymers, and metallic monomers can improve processing, state of cure, and ultimate physical properties in sulfurcured applications.

As in a peroxide cure, several Sartomer products can influence crosslink formation both during curing and after vulcanization. SR709 and SR708, zinc salts of methacrylic acid, can function to activate cure, providing significant improvements in crosslink density and a degree of reversion and compression set resistance when utilized as a component of conventional and semi-efficient sulfur cure systems. SR709 is unique in that it not only increases crosslink density, but it also imparts prolonged scorch safety.

SR534, a specially-developed multifunctional acrylate, provides excellent anti-reversion properties. Unlike other available anti-reversion agents, SR534 has minimal effects on optimally-cured properties. Additional non-sulfur crosslinks are formed primarily during conditions that would normally result in reversion. SR534 can be used as a drop-in additive and the compounder can expect little or no reformulating. In addition, SR534 does not contain amine groups and will not negatively affect wire adhesion.

Several of Sartomer's liquid polymer products have been utilized in the sulfur-cured market for quite some time. The Ricobond line of maleinated polymers can co-cure in sulfur systems and improve the adhesion of compounds to polar substrates such as fabric and metal. The Ricon line has enjoyed application as reactive plasticizers, and Ricon products can replace aromatic oils as processing aids, improving durability of the vu1canizate.Ricon products are available in a wide array of viscosities and micro-structures so that the compounder can optimize performance in his or her application.

For more information on Sartomer's line of products, check out Sartomer's website at www.sartomer. com or ask your ChemRep account manager for additional information.