vulcanize
/ˈvʌlkənaɪz/
verb
- To treat rubber or similar material with sulfur and heat to make it stronger and more elastic.
- Without the ability to vulcanize rubber, early tires would have melted in hot weather.
- The factory uses a special process to vulcanize natural rubber for car tires.
- They learned how to vulcanize latex to produce durable gloves.