Sulfur vulcanization Sulfur vulcanization Sulfur vulcanization or sulfur vulcanisation is a chemical process for converting natural rubber or related polymers into more durable materials by heating them with sulfur or other equivalent curatives or accelerators. Sulfur forms cross-links (bridges) between sections of polymer chain which results in increased rigidity and durability, as well as other changes in the mechanical and electronic properties of the material. A vast array of products are made with vulcanized rubber, including tires, shoe soles, hoses, and conveyor belts. The term is derived from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire. The main polymers subjected to sulfur vulcanization are
Silicone rubber cured by a platinum-catalyzed cure system, a condensation cure system, a peroxide cure system, or an oxime cure system. For the platinum-catalyzed cure system, the curing process can be accelerated by adding heat or pressure. In a platinum-based silicone cure system, also called an "addition" system (because the key reaction-building polymer is an "Addition reaction"), two different chemical groups (a silicone hydride and a vinyl) react in the presence of platinum (which serves as the catalyst). In this reaction, an ethyl group [C(H2)- C(H2)] is formed and there are no byproducts. Two separate components must be mixed to catalyze the