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Insulating Composites Made from Sulfur, Canola Oil, and Wool **
Author(s) -
Bu Najmah Israa,
Lundquist Nicholas A.,
Stanfield Melissa K.,
Stojcevski Filip,
Campbell Jonathan A.,
Esdaile Louisa J.,
Gibson Christopher T.,
Lewis David A.,
Henderson Luke C.,
Hasell Tom,
Chalker Justin M.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.202100187
Subject(s) - polysulfide , materials science , composite material , wool , vulcanization , polymer , composite number , canola , ultimate tensile strength , sulfur , natural rubber , chemistry , metallurgy , food science , electrode , electrolyte
An insulating composite was made from the sustainable building blocks wool, sulfur, and canola oil. In the first stage of the synthesis, inverse vulcanization was used to make a polysulfide polymer from the canola oil triglyceride and sulfur. This polymerization benefits from complete atom economy. In the second stage, the powdered polymer was mixed with wool, coating the fibers through electrostatic attraction. The polymer and wool mixture were then compressed with mild heating to provoke S−S metathesis in the polymer, which locks the wool in the polymer matrix. The wool fibers imparted tensile strength, insulating properties, and reduced the flammability of the composite. All building blocks are sustainable or derived from waste and the composite is a promising lead on next‐generation insulation for energy conservation.