Accelerator
Accelerators are chemical substances that speed up the rubber vulcanisation process by promoting sulphur cross-linking. Without accelerators, vulcanisation would proceed too slowly and incompletely.
The three relevant groups:
- Thiurams (e.g. tetramethylthiuram disulphide, TMTD): most common in latex gloves, highest allergenic potential
- Dithiocarbamates (e.g. zinc dibutyldithiocarbamate, ZDBC): widespread in nitrile gloves
- Benzothiazoles (e.g. 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, MBT): in nitrile and latex formulations
Health significance: accelerators are the primary trigger of Type IV contact allergies (delayed hypersensitivity, contact dermatitis) in glove users. The reaction is caused not by the rubber material itself but by the degradation products of the accelerators.
Distinction: Type I allergy (immediate hypersensitivity) is triggered by latex proteins, not accelerators. Type IV allergy is triggered by accelerators and is more common.
Accelerator-free gloves are vulcanised without thiurams, carbamates, or benzothiazoles (e.g. via UV or sulphur-donor systems) and are suitable for individuals with confirmed Type IV accelerator allergy.
Frequently asked questions
Which accelerators are most common in gloves?
What is the difference between an accelerator allergy and a latex allergy?
Type I latex allergy (immediate hypersensitivity): triggered by latex proteins, can cause anaphylaxis. Type IV accelerator allergy (contact dermatitis): triggered by vulcanisation accelerators in latex and nitrile gloves, onset 12-48 hours after contact.
Are accelerator-free gloves automatically suitable for all latex allergy sufferers?
No. Accelerator-free gloves address Type IV accelerator allergies. Individuals with Type I latex allergy (to latex proteins) require latex-free gloves - such as nitrile, TPE, or vinyl.