Rubber vulcanization agents of sulfur and olefin

A process for preparing a rubbery vulcanizate comprising:

• (1) mixing a major proportion of a rubbery material having a available unsaturation selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic polyisoprenes, polybutadienes, polychloroprenes, copolymers of isobutylene and isoprene, copolymers of butadiene-1.3 and styrene and copolymers of butadiene-1,3 and acrylonttrile with from 0.5 to about 12% by weight based on the weight of said rubbery material of an adduct of sulfur and at least oen olefin;
• said adduct of sulfur and at least one olefin is prepared according to the process comprising:
• (a) admixing sulfur and at least one olefin, water, a dispersing agent and a basic catalyst wherein the weight ratio of sulfur to olefin is from 1:1 to 50:1 and the weight ratio of water to sulfur plus olefin is from 2.5:1to 60:1;
• (b) heating the mixture to 120.degree. to 200.degree. C. with agitation for a sufficient time to form the granular vulcanizing agent;
• (c) cooling and isolating the granular vulcanizing agent and;
• (2) vulcanizing the rubbery material sulfur adduct mixture.