The perfect cure

I n the processing of raw rubber, sulfur is added for shape retention. To enhance the efficiency of curing and the vulcanization process, chemical curatives known as accelerators and activators are frequently used. However, excessive use of chemical curatives has raised major concerns about their adverse impact on human and animal health as well as on the environment. In most tire compounds, sulfenamide accelerators and zinc oxide are used in combination with sulfur to achieve efficient vulcanization. Since these chemicals are essential to improve the curing process, it is likely that their use in tire compounds will continue for some time. Therefore, their use must be lowered without compromising the cure properties and adversely affecting the cure cycle of tire compounds. ....