This technology enables the room-temperature synthesis of liquid sulfur-based resins with high sulfur content, offering a novel route to create low-cost, low-viscosity prepolymer materials. By incorporating reactive thiols into sulfur-styrene prepolymers, the resulting resins are readily compatible with a wide range of organic comonomers. These resins can undergo photopolymerization or thermal curing at ambient temperatures, making them ideal for applications like 3D printing and aerospace coatings. This innovation overcomes long-standing challenges with sulfur polymerization, including high-temperature requirements and limited miscibility, and introduces a flexible platform for high-performance polymer manufacturing. Background: Traditional sulfur polymerizations require either high heat to melt elemental sulfur or moisture-sensitive intermediates like sulfenyl chlorides, both of which hinder widespread application. Existing technologies also struggle with poor miscibility with conventional polymers and limited processability at room temperature. This technology addresses these issues by enabling the formation of stable, liquid sulfur-based resins that polymerize effectively at room temperature. Unlike previous sulfur resins, these new materials blend well with conventional organics and can be cured photochemically or thermally without elevated temperatures, simplifying manufacturing processes and expanding potential uses. Applications:
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