Curatives for the Vulcanisation of Nitril Rubber

Manufacturer: We are manufacturing rubber parts using dry natural rubber (SMR) via compression molding and are about to conduct some trials using dry carboxylated nitrile rubber. We would be obliged if you could give us some guide lines in terms of curatives compounding.

John Woon (Senior Latex Consultant): For general applications, you can used practically the cure systems for both NR and SBR such as thiazoles and sulphenamide cure system. For high temperature applications and also where low compression set is required, both thiuram and peroxide cure systems should be used.

You should also get the advice from the rubber suppliers or manufactueres because the following factors involved in polymerization, etc. are also affecting the vulcanisation of nitrile rubber:

1) Coagulant
2) Emulsifiers and surfactants
3) Polymerization additives
4) Polymer rheology
5) Process aids in polymerization