Originally, the rubbers are independent macromolecular chains with poor characteristics and it's essential to enhance their properties by linking the chains to build a tough 3D network. The process, named vulcanization or cure or crosslinking, requires special and expensive additives, tools and machinery and consumes time, money, energy needing often high temperatures. Generally, the more the temperature rises, the faster the cure is, decreasing cycle times but increasing energy consumption and thermal degradation of the rubber and the other materials possibly included as core, reinforcement and so on.
For technical, economical or environmental purposes the vulcanization can be carried out at lower temperatures or even at room temperature by using special or adapted curing systems. The lowering of curing temperature can have collateral effects such as a more or less deep depletion of the cure degree and performances, a decrease of the thermal degradation, a modification of certain steps of the product life.