The vulcanization process is a cornerstone of rubber engineering, involving the cross-linking of polymer chains to enhance elasticity, durability and resistance to chemical degradation. Recent ...

Materials scientists in the U.S. have just given natural rubber a major upgrade by developing a method to make it stronger and significantly more resistant to cracking, without compromising its ...

Rubber is everywhere in modern vehicles, from tires to timing belts. Eventually, all these items wear out, usually by cracking after countless cycles of stretching and snapping back into shape.