vulcanize
Treat with sulfur
To vulcanize rubber is to treat it with sulfur and heat, transforming it from a sticky, perishable material into something durable and elastic.
The process, named for Vulcan, Roman god of fire, made modern tires and rubber goods possible.
Vulcanized rubber resists cracking in cold weather.
Restoring health or preserving
- cross-linkingBonds joining parallel chains
- sulfurYellow combustible element
- heatTransferred thermal energy
- compressionForcing into smaller space
molding · thermoset · autoclave · steam · baking · temperature · press · extrusion
Yellow combustible element
- cross-linkingBonds joining parallel chains
- polymersLarge chain-like molecules
- acceleratorsThings that speed up
- peroxidesCompounds with O-O bonds
antioxidants · silica · fillers · plasticizers · stabilizers · additives · elastomers · reinforcement
Stretchable, rebounding polymers
- latexMilky plant-derived polymer
- neopreneSynthetic rubber polymer
- siliconeFlexible synthetic polymer
- butylFour-carbon alkyl radical
nitrile · uncured · mastication · tackiness · plasticity
Able to withstand use
- resilientAble to recover quickly
- heat-resistantUnaffected by high temperatures
- wear-resistantAble to withstand friction
- elasticAble to stretch, rebounds
tough · hardened · flexible · waterproof · strong · robust · long-lasting · reinforced
curing
Restoring health or preserving
- cross-linkingBonds joining parallel chains
- sulfurYellow combustible element
- heatTransferred thermal energy
compression · molding · thermoset · autoclave · steam · baking · temperature · press · extrusion · calendering
sulfur
Yellow combustible element
- cross-linkingBonds joining parallel chains
- polymersLarge chain-like molecules
- acceleratorsThings that speed up
peroxides · antioxidants · silica · fillers · plasticizers · stabilizers · additives · elastomers · reinforcement · compound
elastomers
Stretchable, rebounding polymers
butyl · nitrile · uncured · mastication · tackiness · plasticity
durable
Able to withstand use
- resilientAble to recover quickly
- heat-resistantUnaffected by high temperatures
- wear-resistantAble to withstand friction
elastic · tough · hardened · flexible · waterproof · strong · robust · long-lasting · reinforced · rugged
tires
Rubber wheel coverings
belts · footwear · soles · O-rings · grommets · bushings · tubing · insulation · wetsuits
vulcanizeuncured
Not treated for keeping
unvulcanized · raw rubber · untreated · natural rubber · latex
vulcanizedevulcanize
Reverse rubber hardening
break down · degrade · decompose · soften · destabilize
- vulcanized rubberHeat-treated elastic polymer
vulcanization, vulcanized, vulcanism, vulcanizing, vulcanise, vulcanizes, vulcanisation, vulcanised