A direct method for the vulcanization of acrylate rubber through in situ coordination crosslinking

An inorganic metal salt, copper sulfate (CuSO4), was mechanically mixed with acrylate rubber (AR) and heat pressed to prepare a novel crosslinkable AR/CuSO4 composite. The coordination reaction between the ester lateral groups and the copper (II) ions was carried out at elevated temperatures. A straightforward method of vulcanizing AR was explored via the introduction of in situ coordination crosslinking.