Abstract
(1) Considering that low-sulfur vulcanization gives high resistance to aging, because vulcanization does not go beyond the primary stage, it has been sought to effect this control in stocks accelerated with diphenylguanidine. m-Dinitrobenzene has been selected from a number of possible agents as a reliable controller; other agents which retard vulcanization and have weak control effect or active oxidizing effect were rejected. (2) From a comparison of m-dinitrobenzene and aldol-α-naphthylamine in diphenylguanidine stocks, successful aging resistance has been observed. Mechanical tests were carried out before and after bomb aging, and chemical analyses were made of the vulcanized rubbers to throw light on the vulcanization mechanism and the reasons for improved resistance to aging. (3) Parallel experiments with other accelerators failed to reveal improved aging resistance, and in the presence of mercaptobenzothiazole in particular, m-dinitrobenzene acts as an oxidizing agent. (4) Tests of the stability of m-dinitrobenzene, alone and when mixed with various reagents, by the Abel test for stability of explosives have shown that the stability depends on the purity of the compound. Diphenylguanidine is effective as a stabilizer of m-dinitrobenzene, while other accelerators act as decomposers, thus providing a reason for the age resistance observed with diphenylguanidine. As a result of the stability tests, it has been found that various amines, soaps and mineral oils are effective as stabilizers of m-dinitrobenzene. As an instance of their application, aging tests have been carried out on rubber compounds accelerated with mercaptobenzothiazole and containing m-dinitrobenzene stabilized with diphenylamine. It has been found that the age resistance is much improved and is comparable with that obtained in the presence of aldol-α-naphthylamine.