Dilatometric Measurement of the Rate of Vulcanization of Crepe Rubber by Sulfur Monochloride

Abstract

Abstract The cold vulcanization of rubber by sulfur monochloride is believed to consist essentially of the cross-linking of adjacent polyisoprene units by a series of sulfide bonds. Chemical analysis of the product suggests that the cross-linking process is analogous to the mustard gas reaction of ethylene with sulfur monochloride, thus: (see PDF for diagram) Nothing is known, however, about the kinetics of this vulcanization process. General considerations lead one to expect that such a reaction, involving polymer aggregation, should be accompanied by an increase in the density of the rubber; moreover, by choosing a suitably delicate technique, it should be possible to utilize such density changes for rate determinations. A dilatometric method seemed most suitable, and the experiments described here show that the vulcanization process is, indeed, accompanied by a decrease in volume of the reaction mixture, and that the reaction may be followed quantitatively using a tap dilatometer.