ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Sulphur and peroxide vulcanisation of rubber compounds – overview

Ján Kruželák, Richard Sýkora, and Ivan Hudec

Department of Plastics and Rubber, Institute of Polymer Materials, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Radlinského 9, 812 37 Bratislava Slovakia

E-mail: jan.kruzelak@stuba.sk

Received: 1 October 2015  Revised: 3 May 2016  Accepted: 5 May 2016

Abstract: Vulcanisation is a process of transforming a plastic rubber compound into a highly elastic product by forming a three-dimensional cross-linked network structure in the rubber matrix. Many systems have been developed to vulcanise rubber compounds, among which sulphur and peroxide curing systems remain the most desirable. The application of sulphur systems leads to the forming of sulphidic cross-links between elastomer chains, while carbon–carbon bonds are formed in peroxide-curing. Both vulcanisation systems provide certain benefits to the cross-linked rubber articles, but also some disadvantages. The present work seeks to provide an overview on both vulcanisation systems; their composition, possibilities of their application, reaction mechanisms, structure of the cross-links formed and the main feature of the final cross-linked materials – vulcanisates.

Keywords: sulphur vulcanisation; peroxide vulcanisation; vulcanisate; cross-linked density; cross-linked structure

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1515/chempap-2016-0093

Chemical Papers 70 (12) 1533–1555 (2016)