Rubber Chemistry in some circles has been described more of an Art than a Science. It is true that the very beginning of Rubber Chemistry has its roots akin to Alchemy. Alchemists as has been stipulated made attempts to convert base metals to gold or find that universal elixir. Early Rubber Chemists like Charles Goodyear and Thomas Hancock forged similar paths in that they took base saps and tried to convert their inventions into gold.<br/>This presentation will attempt to address the fundamental aspects of Rubber Chemistry and the impact on society. Rubber Chemicals can be classified into basic categories. These basic categories are Activators, Accelerators, Vulcanizers (curing agents), Retarders, and Antidegradients. It is the interaction of these Chemicals that provide many of the properties desired by consumers in their products.

Chemistry of rubber, it’s more than what meets the road

252nd National Meeting (2016)

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