The vulcanization transition-the cross-link-density-controlled equilibrium phase transition from the liquid to the amorphous solid state-is explored analytically from a renormalization-group perspective. The analysis centers on a minimal model which has previously been shown to yield a rich and informative picture of vulcanized matter at the mean-field level, including a connection with mean-fi...

Three cases of occupational dermatitis due to additives to rubber gloves are discussed. These cases were not a result of latex allergy and their dermatitis caused by vulcanization accelerator in rubber gloves. Most people have heard of latex allergy, and some people avoid the use of latex products. However, some rubber-related contact dermatitis of hands is caused by additives such as vulcaniza...

The vulcanization transition is addressed via a minimal replica-field-theoretic model. The appropriate long-wavelength behavior of the two- and three-point vertex functions is considered diagrammatically, to all orders in perturbation theory, and identified with the corresponding quantities in the Houghton-Reeve-Wallace field-theoretic approach to the percolation critical phenomenon. Hence, it ...

Certain density correlators, measurable via various experimental techniques, are studied in the context of the vulcanization transition. It is shown that these correlators contain essential information about both the vulcanization transition and the emergent amorphous solid state. Contact is made with various physical ingredients that have featured in experimental studies of amorphous colloidal...

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-HP) levels in contemporary Swedish vulcanization workers and in controls. These levels were used as an index substance for vulcanization fumes, as well as a biomarker for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The risk of symptoms and changed levels of immunologic markers were investigated in relation to the 1-HP lev...

EPM/EPDM elastomers are widely used for the insulation of high and medium voltage electric cables. Insulator mechanical properties depend on the extent of vulcanization, which is obtained by manufactures using a number of different peroxides as cross-linking agents. Vulcanization occurs in the continuous vulcanization tube, a pressurized tube filled with nitrogen at high temperatures. Then, wat...

Spatial heterogeneity in the elastic properties of soft random solids is examined via vulcanization theory. The spatial heterogeneity in the structure of soft random solids is a result of the fluctuations locked-in at their synthesis, which also brings heterogeneity in their elastic properties. Vulcanization theory studies semimicroscopic models of random-solid-forming systems and applies repli...