Curingof Rubber via Oxa-Michael Reaction toward Significantly IncreasedAging Resistance.

An epoxidized natural rubber wassuccessfully cured with zinc diacrylate (ZDA). A nonconventional curingmechanism via oxa-Michael addition between hydroxyl and acryloyl wasrevealed. Such a cured elastomer was found to be highly resistantto heat/oxygen aging, and such an outcome is closely related to therelatively lower concentration of epoxides and the absence of sulfidesin the ZDA-cured composites. The present method provides a uniqueinsight for developing aging-resistant diene-based elastomers whichare generally heat/oxygen susceptible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]