CURE ACTIVATORS TO IMPROVE BOTH ECO-BALANCE AND ECONOMICS OF A CURE SYSTEM

Cure activators to improve both the eco-balance and the economics of a cure system
Dr. Martin Saewe*, Steven Monthey
The second half of the year 2008 and the first half of 2009 have brought about an economic slowdown of almost unprecedented extent. Especially the automotive industry and with it the rubber industry are under enormous pressure. Smart solutions are sought-after to improve the economics of the whole process. Cure activators can play a vital role in the struggle to combine wanted ecological improvements with the needed economical aspects.
Not only are cure activators usually shortening the cycle time, thereby increasing the average output of a certain production process and reducing the energy that is necessary to achieve a fully cured part. In some cases, they bring about additional beneficial effects in physical properties of the finished part. Improved aging characteristics are achievable which translate themselves into further economical and ecological advantages for the whole system.
In this paper, some examples of cure activators with multiple effects will be discussed in more detail, thereby outlining their specific advantages on the whole process. An activator will be introduced that allows the replacement of a problematic curative by a more eco-friendly crosslinking agent by making it possible to adjust the cure rate of the normally significantly less reactive material.