Tall oil fatty acid mixture in rubber

Abstract From the Canadian patent

There is disclosed a method for enhancing the cure of a sulfur vulcanizable elastomer which comprises adding to the vulcanizable elastomer a mixture of tall oil fatty acids comprising at least (a) from about 28% to about 55% by weight of oleic acid, (b) from about 25% to about 40% by weight of linoleic acid (c) from, about 4% to about 20% conjugated linoleic acid and (d) from about 0% to about 8% rosin acids. Use of a mixture of tall oil acids as a cure activator significantly lowers the cost of producing the vulcanizate while concomitantly improving the adhesion and dynamic properties of the elastomer.