Vulcanizing Agents
Substances that form the crosslinks: sulfur, insoluble sulfur and sulfur donors (DTDM, CLD). Sulfur donors enable low-sulfur, heat-resistant systems.
A vulcanizing agent is the substance that forms crosslinks between rubber chains. In general-purpose rubbers this substance is sulfur; accelerators only manage the process.
Insoluble sulfur is the standard in the tire industry because it prevents blooming and preserves ply-to-ply adhesion. Sulfur donors (DTDM, CLD) replace part or all of the elemental sulfur and form heat-resistant, short crosslinks.
Halogenated rubbers (ACM, ECO, CR) are vulcanized not with sulfur but with special crosslinkers such as TCY.
Comparison
| Substance | Function | Blooming | Nitrosamine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insoluble sulfur (IS) | Main vulcanizing agent | No | No |
| DTDM | Sulfur donor | No | Yes (morpholine) |
| CLD | Sulfur donor | No | No |
| TCY | Crosslinker for halogenated rubber | — | No |
Relative, qualitative comparison; varies with formulation and rubber type.
6 substances
Full index →IS
Insoluble sulfur
CAS 9035-99-8DTDM
4,4'-Dithiodimorpholine
CAS 103-34-4CLD
Caprolactam disulfide
CAS 23847-08-7TCY
Trithiocyanuric acid
CAS 638-16-4PDMTD
Dimethyl thiuram disulfide derivative
CAS to be verifiedPTMT
Pentamethylenethiuram tetrasulfide derivative
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