Sustainable inverse-vulcanised sulfur polymers

Abstract

We demonstrate two renewable crosslinkers that can stabilise sustainable high sulfur content polymers, via inverse-vulcanisation. With increasing levels of sulfur produced as a waste byproduct from hydrodesulfurisation of crude oil and gas, the need to find a method to utilise this abundant feedstock is pressing. The resulting sulfur copolymers can be synthesised relatively quickly, using a one-pot solvent free method, producing polymeric materials that are shape-persistent solids at room temperature and compare well to other inverse vulcanised polymers. The physical properties of these high sulfur polymeric materials, coupled with the ability to produce them sustainably, allow broad potential utility.

Durable Cellulose–Sulfur Composites Derived from Agricultural and Petrochemical Waste

“…The origin of the wellknown dark red/brown/black color of oligomeric and polymeric sulfur species has been a topic of some discussion in the literature, and is often observed in contexts where several S n chain lengths are concurrently present. Numerous other reports in which photos of inverse-vulcanized materials are presented [8,16] show similar or darker coloration to what is observed for PCS x , supporting the earlier literature suggesting that the dark coloration is sulfur-derived. So, heated PC does not develop a dark black color akin to the color of PCS x .…”

A role for terpenoid cyclization in the atom economical polymerization of terpenoids with sulfur to yield durable composites

“…Materials made by inverse vulcanization can be durable polymers or composites in which polymeric sulfur domains, typically unstable at STP, are trapped and stabilized by the crosslinked network. Inverse vulcanization has proven successful for producing materials from a range of petrochemical and renewably-sourced olefins, 8 including terpenoids, [11][12][13][14][15] triglycerides, [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] fatty acids, [24][25][26][27] sorbitan esters, 28 amino acid derivatives, 29 guaiacol derivatives, 30 and cellulose/lignin derivatives. [31][32][33][34] Many applications for resulting materials have been noted, 35,36 as highlighted in the aforementioned references.…”

Recyclable, sustainable, and stronger than portland cement: a composite from unseparated biomass and fossil fuel waste

“…Many efforts have been undertaken to understand the mechanical and other properties of plant-derived composites having high sulfur content. [43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50] Despite the presence of just 5 wt% organic crosslinker in the composite, significant physical strength enhancement over elemental sulfur was observed. An elemental sulfur sample breaks upon mounting in the instrument at the minimum clamping force.…”