Estimation, from Swelling, of the Structural Contribution of Chemical Reactions to the Vulcanization of Natural Rubber. Part I. General Method
Abstract A procedure is described for estimating indirectly the contribution of vulcanization reactions to the build-up of network structure. This method is useful with technically important vulcanizing systems for which no direct method of estimation has been found. Errors of the theory of high elasticity are avoided by using published results, such as those of Moore and Watson of direct chemical estimates obtained with a special vulcanizing system that is chemically well understood. Reliance on the theories of end correction and swelling is also avoided by using published experimental relations. The method is applicable to any linear primary polymer of arbitrary molecular weight and any suitable swelling liquid, for which the required reference data have been obtained.