Term: curing
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.CT07137

Definition:
Chemical process of converting a prepolymer or a polymer into a polymer of higher molar mass and then into a network.

Notes:
0) Curing is achieved by the induction of chemical reactions which might or might not require mixing with a chemical curing agent.
1) Physical aging, @C01434@, physical @CT07136@ and post-@P04740@ reactions are sometimes referred to as 'curing'. Use of the term 'curing' to describe such processes is deprecated.

Related Terms:
1) vulcanization (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.VT07153).
2) crystallization (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C01434).
3) crosslinking (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.CT07136).
4) polymerization (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04740).
5) prepolymer (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.PT07163).
6) network (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.NT07562).

Source: PAC, 2007, 79, 1801. 'Definitions of terms relating to the structure and processing of sols, gels, networks, and inorganic-organic hybrid materials (IUPAC Recommendations 2007)' on page 1822 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac200779101801)

Citation: 'curing' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.CT07137

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