Invention:
This technology is the copolymerization of elemental sulfur with vinylic and other unsaturated comonomers for the preparation of sulfur oligomers that can react with other commercially available comonomers to prepare a wider class of functional sulfur polymers.
Background:
Nearly seven million tons of elemental sulfur is generated as a waste byproduct. Current industrial utilization of elemental sulfur is centered about sulfuric acid, agrochemicals, and vulcanization of rubber. While sulfur feedstocks are plentiful, sulfur is still quite difficult to process. Because of this, there is a need for the production of new materials that offer significant public and environmental health benefits to lessen the storage of excess sulfur in powder or brick form.
Applications:
- Electric vehicles
- Portable consumer devices (e.g. personal electronics, cameras, electronic cigarettes, hand-held game consoles, and flashlights)
- Motorized wheelchairs
- Golf carts
- Electric bicycles and forklifts
- Tools
- Automobile starters
- Uninterruptible power supplies
Advantages:
- More soluble and processable
- Can be further reacted with other conventional, commercially available comonomers to prepare a wider class of functional sulfur copolymers
