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Synthesis of Terpolymers at Mild Temperatures Using Dynamic Sulfur Bonds in PolyS-Divinylbenzene
Published on: May 20, 2019
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Synthesis of Odorless Sulfur-Based Polymers and Their High Load-Bearing Capacity as Extreme Pressure Lubricant
Qi Pei1, Qing Huang2, Haozhe Xu1,3
1Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Metals Chemistry and Resources Utilization of Gansu Province, State Key Laboratory of Natural Product Chemistry, and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|March 17, 2026
Summary
New odorless sulfur-based polymers were synthesized from elemental sulfur and fatty acids to replace problematic sulfurized isobutylene (SIB) extreme pressure (EP) additives. These green additives significantly reduce friction and wear in lubricants without the associated odor.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Tribology
- Green Chemistry
Background:
- Sulfurized isobutylene (SIB) is a common extreme pressure (EP) additive in lubricants but suffers from a strong, unpleasant odor.
- There is a need for odorless, high-performance EP additives derived from sustainable sources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize novel, odorless sulfur-based polymers as potential replacements for SIB.
- To evaluate the tribological properties of these new polymers as lubricant additives.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of poly(S-r-UnOH-x) polymers via inverse vulcanization of elemental sulfur (S8) and esterification with fatty acids (lauric, stearic, oleic).
- Tribological testing using SRV-IV oscillating reciprocating and four-ball wear testers.
- Comparison with polyalphaolefin (PAO-10) base oil and a commercial SIB additive (T321).
Main Results:
- Synthesized oil-soluble, odorless sulfur-containing polymers.
- Achieved significant reductions in friction (up to 59.8%) and wear (up to 93.2%) compared to PAO-10.
- Demonstrated high load-bearing capacity (1500 N SRV-IV) and excellent anti-wear properties (PB: 1069 N, PD: 2453 N four-ball).
Conclusions:
- The novel sulfur-based polymers exhibit excellent tribological performance, comparable to or better than commercial SIB additives.
- These odorless polymers offer a green alternative for EP additive applications, utilizing industrial sulfur byproduct.
- The study highlights the potential for sustainable and environmentally friendly lubricant additives.
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