A review of sulfur crosslinking fundamentals for accelerated and unaccelerated vulcanization

Abstract This work has reviewed and summarized the present understanding of the fundamental science and chemistry of rubber vulcanization. The future of this area holds much potential. Recent studies have begun to fully elucidate the accelerator and accelerator complex chemistry, and definitively answer questions that have been open for debate for many years. Additionally, the understanding of the network structure is rapidly progressing through advances in analytical techniques. The largest area of future research will be the use of multiple experimental techniques to fully elucidate and understand the relationship between accelerator chemistry and the formation of specific network structures. With this knowledge, it will then be possible to molecularly engineer vulcanizates with specific properties.