Rubber composition containing cyclic polysulfide vulcanization agent

Abstract

A method of production of a cyclic polysulfide having the formula (I): wherein x is an integer of 2 to 6, n is an integer of 1 to 15, and R indicates a substituted or unsubstituted C 2 to C 18 alkylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted C 2 to C 18 alkylene group including an oxyalkylene group comprising: reacting a dihalogen compound of the formula X—R—X wherein, X independently indicates a halogen atom, and R indicates a substituted or unsubstituted C 2 to C 18 alkylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted C 2 to C 18 alkylene group including an oxyalkylene group and an alkali metal polysulfide of the formula M 2 S x wherein, M is an alkali metal and x is an integer of 2 to 6, by a two-phase system in an incompatible mixed solvent of a hydrophilic and lypophilic solvent.

1 . (canceled)  
     
     
         2 . (canceled)  
     
     
         3 . A method for producing a cyclic polysulfide having the formula (I):  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein x is an integer of 2 to 6, n is an integar of 1 to 15, and R indicates a substituted or unsubstituted C 2 -C 18  alkylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted C 2  to C 18  alkylene group containing an oxyalkylene group comprising: 
 reacting a dihalogen compound having the formula X—R—X, wherein X independently indicates a halogen atom and R indicates a substituted or unsubstituted C 2  to C 18  alkylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted C 2 -C 18  alkylene group containing an alkynene group,  
 with a solution of an alkali metal polysulfide having the formula M 2 S X , wherein M indicates an alkali metal and x is an integer of 2 to 6, by adding the dihalogen compound at a rate such that the dihalogen compound reacts with the alkali metal polysulfide at the interface thereof.  
 
     
     
         4 . A method for producing a cyclic polysulfide as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the reaction at the interface is carried out at a temperature of 50 to 120° C.  
     
     
         5 . A rubber vulcanization agent comprising a compound having the formula (I) produced by the method according to  claim 3 .  
     
     
         6 . A rubber vulcanization agent comprising a cyclic polysulfide compound having the formula (II):  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein x is an integer of 2 to 6, n is an integer of 1 to 15, and R indicates a substituted or unsubstituted C 2  to C 18  alkylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted C 2  to C 18  alkylene group containing an oxyalkylene group.  
     
     
         7 . A rubber composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a diene-based rubber and 0.5 to 30 parts by weight of a rubber vulcanization agent comprising a cyclic polysulfide compound having the formula (I):  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein x is an integer of 2 to 6, n is an integer of 1 to 15, and R indicates a substituted or unsubstituted C 2  to C 18  alkylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted C 2  to C 18  alkylene group containing an oxyalkylene group.  
     
     
         8 . A rubber composition as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said cyclic polysulfide compound has the formula (I), wherein x is an average of 3.0 to 5.0, n is an integer of 1 to 10 and R indicates a straight or branched chain alkylene group selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, butylene, pentylene, hexylene, octylene, nonylene, decylene and 1,2-propylene or an alkylene group selected from the group consisting of —CH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 —, —(CH 2 CH 2 O) 2 CH 2 CH 2 —, —(CH 2 CH 2 O) 2 CH—CH 2 —, —(CH 2 CH 2 O) 4 CH 2 CH 2 —, —(CH 2 CH 2 O) 5 CH 2 CH 2 —, —(CH 2 CH 2 O) 2 CH 2 —, and —CH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 —.  
     
     
         9 . A rubber composition as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the amount of the rubber vulcanization agent is 0.5 to 20 parts by weight, based upon 100 parts by weight of the diene-based rubber.  
     
     
         10 . A rubber composition as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said diene-based rubber is at least one member selected from the group consisting of NR, IR, BR, SBR and EPDM.