Vulcanization is a chemical process that is used to convert natural rubber into cross-linked polymers with improved physical properties. Sulfur is one of the most common vulcanization agents. Sulfur vulcanization was discovered in 1839, since then it has become popular among the rubber manufacturers.
However, vulcanization is a very slow process, that’s why rubber makers are bound to use accelerators to speed up the process. Sulfur donors (or sulfur bearing chemicals) are some of the other vulcanization agents. Apart from that organic accelerators and other compounds that release sulfur at vulcanization temperature can be used as vulcanizing agent for rubber. By adding these sulfur donors to the compound it forms monosulfidic linkages that provide excellent heat resistance to the rubber.
