Inverse Vulcanization of Elemental Sulfur with Natural Rosin to Prepare High Sulfur Content Polymers with Excellent Solubility and UV‐Blocking Performance. Issue 5 (15th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qiu, Jinhui; Huang, Zhengyu; Huang, Baotao; Wang, Guan; Zhou, Li
• Is Part Of: Macromolecular materials and engineering. Volume 307:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-01-15
• Subjects: elemental sulfur -- inverse vulcanization -- rosin -- UV‐blocking; Plastics -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1002/mame.202100854
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1438-7492

Abstract

Abstract: Inverse vulcanization of cheap elemental sulfur (S) to prepare polymers that simultaneously possess high sulfur content and good solubility is still in its infancy. In this paper, the authors report the synthesis of a novel S‐rosin (Ro) copolymer (S x ‐Ro) based on the inverse vulcanization of S with natural Ro. The sulfur content of S x ‐Ro can be regulated in a wide range, while S x ‐Ro still presents excellent solubility in low boiling point solvents at high sulfur content. Even if the sulfur content in S x ‐Ro is as high as 50%, its solubility in tetrahydrofuran (THF) can still reach 26 mg mL −1 . Moreover, the S x ‐Ro exhibits excellent ultraviolet (UV) absorption capability in the entire UV region (200–400 nm) and can be utilized as an effective anti‐UV agent to enhance the UV‐blocking performance of other polymers (e.g., polymethyl methacrylate [PMMA] and polystyrene [PS]) without compromise of transparency and thermal stability. Considering the fine solubility and superior UV‐blocking properties of S x ‐Ro, this work not only provides a versatile and effective anti‐UV material but also opens new opportunities for value‐added utilization of abundant S and Ro resources. Abstract : A simple approach to synthesize polymers that simultaneously possess high sulfur content and excellent solubility is developed based on the inverse vulcanization of cheap elemental sulfur (S) with natural rosin (Ro). The resulted S x ‐Ro copolymer can be utilized as an effective anti‐UV agent to enhance the UV‐blocking performance of other polymers without compromise of transparency.