An elastomer is a polymeric substance obtained after vulcanization of rubber. Vulcanization is the process of improving the properties of rubber by heating with sulphur. A normal rubber is not useable as it becomes brittle at low temperature and sticky at high temperature. Charles Goodyear had been trying to 'cure' the rubber so that it could be used in all seasons. He tried to mix all kinds of things such as ink, black pepper, cheese and what not. But he couldn't succeed until he dropped a piece of rubber on stove accidentally.

To his surprise, he found that instead of melting the rubber piece hardened and remained pliable. It was found in the lab that it contained traces of sulphur.  Goodyear perfected the process and named it 'vulcanization' after the Roman God of fire, 'Vulcan'.