Sulfur vulcanization are merely the additives used for vulcanisation and that other compounds may also be added to the rubber such as fillers or polymer stabilizers. Ordinary sulfur (octasulfur) is rarely used despite its low cost. Because of the low melting point of S vs the cure temperatures, attempted vulcanization with ordinary results in sulfur bloom. Instead, various forms of polymeric sulfur are used instead. It is also possible to replace sulfur with other sulfur-donating compounds, for example accelerators bearing disulphide groups, in what is often termed 'efficient vulcanization' (EV). Disulfur dichloride may also be used for 'cold vulcanization'. Under normal circumstances,
Rubber toughening measure the separate contributions. Shear yielding is a constant volume process and cannot be measured with tensile dilatometry. Voiding can be seen with optical microscopy, however one of two methods, using polarized light or low angle light scattering are necessary to observe the connection between cavitation and shear bands. In order to gauge the toughening effects of a dispersed secondary phase, it is important to understand the relevant characteristics of the continuous polymer phase. The mechanical failure characteristics of the pure polymeric continuous phase will strongly influence how rubber toughened polymer failure occurs. When a polymer usually fails due to