ABSTRACT
Rubberlike elastomer systems that have achieved commercial importance through the years are largely amorphous, gumlike masses of polymer chains with low glass transition temperatures (T 8) whose interchain attractive forces are relatively weak and delocalized (randomly distributed) along the polymer chains. To be useful for mechanical applications, such polymer chains must be joined together in lateral fashion by covalent chemical crosslinks (CC) in the process known as vulcanization or curing.
