Sustainable inverse-vulcanised sulfur polymers

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Increasing sulfur waste from crude oil hydrodesulfurisation necessitates innovative utilization strategies.
• High sulfur content polymers offer unique material properties but require effective stabilization methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the use of two renewable crosslinkers for stabilizing high sulfur content polymers.
• To develop a sustainable and efficient synthesis method for these advanced materials.

Main Methods:

• Inverse-vulcanisation technique employed for polymer synthesis.
• One-pot, solvent-free reaction conditions utilized.
• Characterization of resulting polymeric materials for physical properties.

Main Results:

• Successful stabilization of high sulfur content polymers demonstrated.
• Synthesis achieved rapidly using a one-pot, solvent-free method.
• Produced materials are shape-persistent solids at room temperature, comparable to existing inverse vulcanised polymers.

Conclusions:

• Renewable crosslinkers effectively stabilize high sulfur content polymers via inverse-vulcanisation.
• The developed method offers a sustainable route to utilize waste sulfur.
• The resulting materials exhibit promising physical properties for diverse applications.