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Abstract The rate of decomposition of dicumyl peroxide in natural rubber has been measured at four temperatures and the results lead to the expression k = 3.9 × 10 13 e −32500/ RT for the rate constant. The crosslinking efficiency is high and is constant over the range 110 to 140°C. The low values found for the ratio of acetophenone to cumyl alcohol in the reaction products indicate that hydrogen abstraction is brought about mainly by cumyloxy radicals, although it seems likely that methyl radicals present are also effective in producing crosslinks. No cumyloxy radicals become attached to the polymer during the crosslinking reaction.
David Thomas (Thu,) studied this question.