vulcanization

Cultural  

1. An industrial process that strengthens natural rubber. Because it requires great heat, the process was named after the Roman god of fire, Vulcan.

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Example Sentences

Charles Goodyear discovered vulcanization when a mixture of natural rubber and sulphur accidentally fell onto a hot surface.

From Science Daily

He earned several lucrative patents, including one for a process that streamlined the vulcanization of rubber.

From New York Times

The Akron Beacon Journal reports the portrait of the man who discovered rubber vulcanization was recently unveiled by the University of Akron’s Archival Services of University Libraries.

From Washington Times

Around this time, manufacturers began using a chemical known as disulfiram to accelerate the vulcanization of rubber.

From New York Times

It was this bouncing ball, posits Johnson, that lay the groundwork for the vulcanization process perfected by Charles Goodyear centuries later.

From Washington Post