vulkanilised

Vulkanised (British English) refers to rubber or elastomer that has undergone vulcanisation, a chemical process in which sulfur or other cross-linking agents create chemical bonds between rubber polymer chains under heat and pressure. The result is a material with improved elasticity, resilience, strength, and resistance to abrasion, solvents, and heat compared with unvulcanised rubber. The degree of cross-linking—cross-link density—controls stiffness and elasticity.

The typical process mixes natural or synthetic rubber with sulfur and accelerators, then heats the compound to a curing temperature, commonly around 140–180°C, for a set time. Sulfur forms cross-links (mainly sulfide bridges) between elastomer chains. Modern systems may use accelerators (and sometimes alternate agents like peroxides) to tune cure rate and properties. Overcuring or undercuring affects elasticity and hardness. Vulcanisation is widely used for tires; other common products include belts, hoses, gaskets, seals, footwear soles, and vibration dampers.

History: Vulcanisation was discovered by Charles Goodyear in 1839, enabling the mass production of durable rubber goods. In British usage the term vulcanised rubber has become standard; American spelling uses vulcanized.