Role of hydrogen disulfide in the vulcanization process

Natural weathering of styrene–butadiene modified bitumen

“…With a molecular weight in excess of s 8 (256 da), we attributed this new maximum to alkyl-aromatic sulphides. lot 2 of the same sealant showed an additional signal, a spike at a molecular weight of 38 da that can be attributed to hydrogen sulphide (H 2 s, 34 da), a gas readily produced during vulcanisation (Kemp and Malm, 1935;Tinyakova et al, 1956;Petrossi et al, 1972). With an analysis of the copolymer, bitumen, and sulphur peaks, GPC can thus be used to follow the extent of their reaction during manufacture, or to follow their change after weathering.…”