English Abstract

Structure and Characterization of Insoluble Sulfur Prepared by Melt Electrospinning Method

Naoki TERADA *1 *2
Katsushige KOUGE *1
Ryo TANIGUCHI *2
Kazuhide UENO *3
Hiromori TSUTSUMI *2
*1:Sanshin Chemical Industry Co., Yanai, Yamaguchi, Japan
*2:Graduate School of Sciences and Technology for Innovation, Yamaguchi University, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan
*3:Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University, Hodogaya-ku,Yokohama, Japan
Nippon Gomu Kyokaishi,(2017),90(11),497-504 Original Paper in Japanese

Structure of insoluble sulfur (SƒÊ) is linear chain structure which connects sulfur atoms each other. High thermal stable SƒÊ is indispensable for a rubber vulcanizing agent. High conversion from elemental sulfur (S8) to SƒÊ is also cost-effective on commercial point of view. Commercial SƒÊ for a rubber vulcanizing agent has been prepared by quenching of molten sulfur. We prepared SƒÊ by using melt electrospinning technique. Melt electrospinning method is normally applied to prepare very thin polymer fibers which have high-oriented polymer chains in them. The diameter of the resulted fibrous sulfur was about 20 ƒÊm and they showed some rough surfaces. Conversion of SƒÊ from S8, structure and thermal stability of the melt-electrospun SƒÊ were also investigated. Higher molten temperature of electrospun process provided higher conversion of SƒÊ. The conversion of electrospun SƒÊ was comparable to that of commercial SƒÊ. The addition of iodine to molten sulfur enhanced the thermal stability of the resulted SƒÊ under the specific molten temperature; however, this value was lower than that of commercial SƒÊ. Post-heating process of the melt-electrospun fibrous sulfur was effective for enhancing thermal stability of the electrospun SƒÊ.

Keywords: Insoluble Sulfur, Polymer Sulfur, Rubber Vulcanizing Agent, Melt Electrospinning Method, Thermal Stability, Conversion from Sulfur