High Temperature Vulcanization of Elastomers

Abstract

Abstract Vulcanization is a process which decreases the plastic properties of rubber while maintaining or improving the elastic properties. The term vulcanization has been applied in the past mainly to the reaction of rubber with sulfur, but now is generally used for the process which results in changes in properties, by sulfur or some other agent. There are four principal changes brought about by vulcanization: (1) rubber is changed from essentially a plastic to a non-plastic material; (2) rubber is changed from a material soluble in a number of solvents to one which is insoluble; (3) rubber is changed to a material with greatly improved physical properties; (4) these properties of vulcanized rubber are maintained over a much wider range of temperature than those of unvulcanized rubber. What is meant by high vulcanizing temperature? There is no unique answer. About 160°C can be taken conveniently as the lower limit; this temperature has been suggested as the highest suitable for some normally compounded sulfur curing rubbers. The upper limit may be 220°C, above which the polymer may begin to degrade. The range in practice extends up to about 250°C in fluid beds and salt baths. Practical vulcanization processes apply heat to the outside of the article being cured and rely on the conduction of heat to the inside. Since no drastic change can be made in the thermal conductivity of practical rubber compounds by compounding modifications, higher temperature is a common method of achieving faster vulcanization. Higher curing temperatures are used in the newer curing or molding processes such as injection molding, the liquid curing medium (LCM) process, and microwave curing.