Reducing zinc content in rubber compounds by using an adherently zinc oxide-coated calcium carbonate

摘要

In the European Union about 300,000 tonnes of zinc oxide are used each year,about three-quarters of which is consumed in the tire and rubber industry.With the creation of the EcoZinc project,zinc oxide in rubber compounds must be reduced to a minimum.Zinc oxide is needed as an activator for organic accelerators in the sulfur vulcanization of natural and synthetic rubber.Therefore zinc oxide is used in almost every sulfur-cured rubber compound.In polymers containing halogen or carboxyl groups such as bromobutyl rubber,chlorobutyl rubber,chloroprene rubber and carboxylated NBR and SBR,zinc oxide itself is used as a crosslinking agent.