Development of low dermatitis potential NBR gloves by accelerator-free crosslinking using polycarbodiimide compounds

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Common rubber gloves have significant risks of skin inflammations (dermatitides) caused by type I or type IV hypersensitivity. This paper reports a new production method of synthetic rubber gloves that are free from these inflammations. Optimized polycarbodiimide compounds (PCDI) having hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments were applied to the crosslinking of a synthetic rubber, carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR). The hydrolysis of carbodiimide groups of the PCDI in aqueous rubber solution was prevented by the formation of micelle, where the hydrophobic region including the carbodiimide group is protected by the hydrophilic ones. The covalent bond between the main chain of the XNBR was created with the PCDI. The rubber gloves thus produced had good rubber properties. Especially the durability to simulated perspiration liquid was outstanding. These rubber gloves using the PCDI that are free from skin inflammations also achieved the long pot-life of rubber mixture and reduced the crosslinking temperature.