Molecules· 2026Q1
Amino Acids as Sustainable Alternatives to Allergenic Sulfur Vulcanization Accelerators for Carbon Black-Filled Nitrile Rubber
- 0citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Three naturally occurring amino acids (L-cystine, L-cysteine, and creatine) effectively replaced allergenic sulfur vulcanization accelerators in carbon black-filled nitrile rubber (NBR), with cystine and creatine yielding comparable cure characteristics and mechanical properties to conventional accelerators.
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Key points
- Amino acids (L-cystine, L-cysteine, creatine) were tested as replacements for allergenic sulfur vulcanization accelerators in NBR.
- Cystine and creatine showed the most effective performance, comparable to conventional accelerators.
- The tested amino acids promoted sulfur crosslinking in carbon black-filled NBR compounds.
- The resulting NBR composites maintained satisfactory thermal stability and aging resistance.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber (NBR) is one of the most widely used elastomers in healthcare products owing to its excellent mechanical performance, chemical resistance, and durability. However, conventional sulfur vulcanization systems rely on accelerators such as tetramethylthiuram disulfide (TMTD), 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), and 1,3-diphenylguanidine (DPG), which are associated with allergenic reactions and potential toxicological concerns. The replacement of these substances with naturally derived compounds represents an attractive strategy for developing safer and more sustainable elastomeric materials. In this work, three naturally occurring amino acids, L-cystine, L-cysteine, and creatine, were investigated as alternative health-friendly sulfur vulcanization accelerators in NBR compounds filled with carbon black. Their influence on curing characteristics, crosslink density, morphology, mechanical performance, viscoelastic behavior, thermal stability, and thermo-oxidative aging resistance of NBR composites was systematically evaluated and compared with that of conventional accelerator systems. The amino acids effectively promoted sulfur crosslinking, although their activity depended strongly on molecular structure. Cystine and creatine exhibited the most promising performance, providing cure characteristics and mechanical properties comparable to those achieved with commercial accelerators while maintaining satisfactory thermal stability and aging resistance of carbon black-filled rubber composites. These findings demonstrate that naturally occurring amino acids constitute promising bio-derived and non-allergenic alternatives to conventional sulfur vulcanization accelerators and may contribute to the development of safer elastomeric materials with reduced reliance on potentially hazardous or allergenic substances.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Molecules, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Polymers and Plastics
Polymers and PlasticsMaterials Science