Accepted Mechanisms of Rubber-Brass Bonding

During vulcanisation, the brass surface is exposed to active sulphur-containing molecules present in the rubber compound and a strong bond is formed between the rubber compound and the tyre cord by the action of an interfacial, non-stoichiometric Cu S layer (x 1.8) 

A previous mechanistic model [19] proposed a synchronisation of sulphidation and network formation. However, this is not necessarily the case and it is now generally accepted that it is essential to delay the cross-linking process long enough to build a Cu S 

---