Mechanisms of Antioxidant Action: The Antifatigue Mechanism of Nitrosamines

1. The present studies have shown that N-nitrosamines derived from the more active diarylamine antifatigue agents are considerably more effective as antifatigue agents than the parent amines when they are predispersed into rubber on an open mill, followed by conventional vulcanization. 2. Some N-nitrosamines are effective retarders of premature vulcanization. 3. All the nitrosamines examined with the exception of nitroso diphenylamine are effective heat stabilizers for rubber in an air oven test. 4. The nitrosamines are partially converted to the parent amine during vulcanization, but other products are also formed which contribute to the antidegradant activity.