What is vulcanisation and tell me its history?

Answer 1

Vulcanisation

In basic terms vulcanisation is the mixing of rubber with sulphur and then "cooking" it, stabilizing it and making it stronger. It was discovered by Charles Goodyear in 1839 and today we know that the reason these changes occur is that sulphur creates "crosslinks" between rubber molecules, producing a microstructure making rubber more resistant.

Through vulcanization:

Rubber compound's strength is increased
All tyre components are "welded" onto each other
Tread pattern and sidewall graphics are "engraved" on the tyre
Vulcanisation is an essential part of the tyre building process and brings all of the "ingredients" of a tyre together into the form e recognise today.(1)

Goodyear, Charles

Goodyear, Charles, 1800–1860, American inventor, b. New Haven, Conn., originator of vulcanized rubber. He failed in his earlier business ventures and was in jail for debt when he began his experiments with rubber, searching for a way to prevent it from sticking and melting in hot weather. He experimented endlessly, kneading various chemicals into the raw rubber. He achieved some success in 1837 with a patented acid and metal coating, but it was not until 1839 that he discovered the process of vulcanization. He spent further years in perfecting the process, patenting it in 1844. Goodyear had carried on his research in the face of poverty and debt and was forced to market his patent rights for a fraction of their value. He went to Europe to try to establish the rubber business there but was unsuccessful. He died, poor and overworked, leaving his family in debt.

See studies by R. F. Wolf (1939) and A. C. Regli (1941).(2)

Answer 2

It is a process that is used in the making of rubber to make it stronger. It was the brainchild of Harvey Firestone.

Look it up either on Google or in an encyclopedia and find out what Harv really did.

Answer 3

Read Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.