Cure index and activation energy of vulcanization of natural rubber and epoxidized natural rubber vulcanized in the presence of antioxidants

The cure index and apparent activation energy of vulcanization of one grade of natural rubber (SMR L) and two grades of epoxidized natural rubbers (ENR 25 and ENR 50) were studied in the presence of three types of antioxidants [viz., 2,2′methylene‐bis(4‐methyl‐6‐tertbutylphenol) (AO 2246), poly‐2,2,4‐trimethyl‐1,2‐dihydroquinoline (TMQ), and N ‐isopropyl‐ N ′‐phenyl‐ p ‐phenylenediamine (IPPD)] in the temperature range of 120–180°C by using a Monsanto automatic Mooney viscometer. Accelerated sulfur vulcanization system and up to 5 phr of antioxidant concentration was used throughout the investigation. Results indicate that both cure index and apparent activation energy of vulcanization are dependent on the type and concentration of the antioxidant used. AO 2246 (a phenol‐based antioxidant) would retard vulcanization as reflected by the higher cure index and activation energy, an observation which is attributed to the solvation and steric hindrance effects of the antioxidant. On the contrary, both TMQ and IPPD (amine‐based antioxidants) exhibit reverse behavior due to the catalytic effect of the antioxidants in generating more active sulfurating agents for vulcanization. In all cases, SMR L gives higher cure index and apparent activation energy than the corresponding ENR, a phenomenon which is associated with the activation of the adjacent double bond by epoxide group in the latter.© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 3234–3238, 2000