| abstract |
A process of producing an improved vulcanized rubber composition is disclosed. In this process, an unvulcanized rubber composition containing 100 parts by weight of a sulphur vulcanizable rubber; 10 to 100 parts by weight of a metal salt of an unsaturated carboxylic acid; 0.2 to 5.0 parts by weight of an organic peroxide whose half-life is 1 minute at above 170°C; and 0.5 to 3.0 parts by weight of a sulphur component, per 100 parts by weight of the sulphur vulcanizable rubber is first heated in a lower-temperature range within which the organic peroxide does not decompose. Following the above heating, the composition is continuously heated in a higher-temperature range within which the organic peroxide decomposes. Owing to this two-stage continuous vulcanization, a vulcanized rubber composition having high strength, high elasticity, and high flex fatigue resistance is obtained. |