5. Vulcanizers are large, heated pressure vessels. Rubber boots remain in the vulcanizers for about 1-1/2 hours. This triggers the chemical reactions that cross-link the rubber molecules. At the end of the vulcanization cycle, the heat is turned off, the internal air pressure is released, and the product is removed
Prior to vulcanization, the rubber is a soft, sticky material, but this curing process bonds all of the separate parts together, and changes rubber into the strong and stretchy material that we are familiar with.
