Size Control and Antioxidant Properties of Sulfur-Rich Polymer Colloids from Interfacial Polymerization

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Colloid Science

Background:

• High sulfur content polymers exhibit valuable properties like high refractive indices and electrochemical capacities.
• Current research primarily focuses on bulk materials or thin films, with limited exploration of sulfur-rich polymer colloids.
• Water-dispersed sulfur-rich particles are needed to expand the application scope of sulfur-containing materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the preparation and size control of an aqueous dispersion of sulfur-rich polymers.
• To achieve sulfur content exceeding 75 wt% in dispersed polymer particles.
• To explore the potential applications of these novel sulfur-rich polymer colloids.

Main Methods:

• Utilized polymeric stabilizers with varying hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB).
• Adjusted the rank of inorganic polysulfides to influence particle formation.
• Controlled particle size within the range of 360 nm to 1.8 µm.

Main Results:

• Successfully prepared an aqueous dispersion of sulfur-rich polymers with over 75 wt% sulfur content.
• Demonstrated control over particle size by adjusting HLB values and polysulfide composition.
• Observed antioxidant properties in the sulfur-rich colloid when dispersed in water.

Conclusions:

• Developed a method for preparing size-controlled, sulfur-rich polymer colloids.
• Highlighted the potential of these colloids as readily removable, heterogeneous radical scavengers.
• Opened new avenues for utilizing high-sulfur polymers in aqueous systems and antioxidant applications.