• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
ERN: Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM

ERN: Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM

  • About
    • About AAAS
    • About the NSF
    • About the Conference
    • Partners/Supporters
    • Project Team
  • Conference
  • Abstracts
    • Undergraduate Abstract Locator
    • Graduate Abstract Locator
    • Abstract Submission Process
    • Presentation Schedules
    • Abstract Submission Guidelines
    • Presentation Guidelines
  • Travel Awards
  • Resources
    • Award Winners
    • Code of Conduct-AAAS Meetings
    • Code of Conduct-ERN Conference
    • Conference Agenda
    • Conference Materials
    • Conference Program Books
    • ERN Photo Galleries
    • Events | Opportunities
    • Exhibitor Info
    • HBCU-UP/CREST PI/PD Meeting
    • In the News
    • NSF Harassment Policy
    • Plenary Session Videos
    • Professional Development
    • Science Careers Handbook
    • Additional Resources
    • Archives
  • Engage
    • Webinars
    • ERN 10-Year Anniversary Videos
    • Plenary Session Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Login

Utilizing Dynamic Sulfur Bonds to Modify Polysulfide

Undergraduate #204
Discipline: Chemistry and Chemical Sciences
Subcategory: Materials Science
Session: 3

Princess M. Walker - Ball State University
Co-Author(s): Dr. Courtney Jenkins, Ball State University



60 million tons of elemental sulfur are produced each year from crude oil in the petroleum refining process. Inverse vulcanization was created to utilize the abundance of elemental sulfur by reacting it with another monomer to form functional polymers. Modification of these polysulfides is a possible means to broaden the versatility of sulfur based polymers. Utilizing the inverse-vulcanization method, a 30:70 ratio of sulfur: divinylbenzene (DVB) were combined on a 5 g scale at 185°C for 1 hour to create poly(S-DVB). Next, maleimide was grafted onto poly(S-DVB). This reaction occurs at 100°C at varied time trials ranging from 15 min to 48 hours. The reaction occurs because the S-S bonds within poly(S-DVB) cleave forming free radicals which bind to maleimide, incorporating it into the prepolymer. To aid miscibility between maleimide and poly(S-DVB), a small amount of dimethylformamide was added to the reaction. In an effort to make this reaction solvent free, a terpolymer was created by combining S8, DVB, and styrene in a 30:35:35 ratio. The addition of styrene allows the prepolymer to have a fluid consistency. Using poly(S-DVB-styrene) improved miscibility between maleimide and the prepolymer without the need for solvent. Polymers were characterized before and after completing the reaction by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The NMR spectra revealed that as the reaction time increases, more maleimide is incorporated. Examining changes in the molecular weight revealed a substantial drop after 24 hours indicating that the backbone of the poly(S-DVB) is intact as the maleimide is incorporated initially, but the structure begins to degrade after 24 hours. Overall, we were able to create graft polymers by reacting maleimide using dynamic S bonds within polysulfides. The ability to modify these polymers demonstrates their versility in for future applications.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): Thanks to the NSF sponsored Indiana Louis Stokes Alliance Minority Program and the America Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Courtney Jenkins, cljenkins@bsu.edu

Role: Performed all experimental methods for this project.

Sidebar

Abstract Locators

  • Undergraduate Abstract Locator
  • Graduate Abstract Locator

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.

AAAS

1200 New York Ave, NW
Washington,DC 20005
202-326-6400
Contact Us
About Us

  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The World’s Largest General Scientific Society

Useful Links

  • Membership
  • Careers at AAAS
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Focus Areas

  • Science Education
  • Science Diplomacy
  • Public Engagement
  • Careers in STEM

Focus Areas

  • Shaping Science Policy
  • Advocacy for Evidence
  • R&D Budget Analysis
  • Human Rights, Ethics & Law

© 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science