Potential Use of Petroleum-based Sulfur in Rubber Industry

Potential use of petroleum-based sulfur generally classified as a by-product from refinery process is investigated as vulcanizing agent in rubber, and compared with commercial rhombic sulfur. Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and nitrile rubber (NBR) are used as rubber matrices. Results obtained show that, between 2 types of sulfurs, the SBR system reveals similarity in cure behaviors whereas the NBR system demonstrates faster cure behavior when vulcanized by petroleum-based sulfur. However, rheological properties, mechanical properties, and dynamic mechanical properties of both rubbers show comparable results regardless of sulfur type. The results suggest the strong potential utilization of petroleum-based sulfur as vulcanizing agent as an alternative to the commercial rhombic sulfur usually used in rubber vulcanization.