SULPHUR AS ELEMENT AND ITS BEHAVIOR IN COLLOIDAL SYSTEM: A REVIEW

Abstract

Sulfur element has been highly sought by many industries everywhere around the world for various applications. This exceptionally useful element has been largely manufactured especially in its powder form each year by different countries and regions with a tremendously increasing manner – reflecting its increase in demand in line with technological advancement and uses for various product applications. The manufacturing processes include mining as well as chemical reactions in Claus Process. Rubber industries normally use abundance of sulfur in their latex compound to introduce vulcanization. Often issues associated with rubber vulcanization specifically includes its dispersibility in the rubber matrix due to improper optimization of its preparation process prior to latex compounding. Another crucial issue is crystallization of soluble sulfur from its insoluble origin, either during or post-rubber vulcanization that constitutes to formation of sulfur bloom that grows on the surface of the rubber articles. It is know that both issues are related to the process conditions and compounding recipe that not impossible to be solved. Various studies have been conducted to at least minimize such occurences – from process optimization to sulfur chemistry itself – and of continuous improvement and innovation to solve various threats in sulfur applications.