Sulfur compounds and method of making same

Abstract

Elemental sulfur is reacted in a certain manner with at least first and second hydrocarbons to form an asphalt-like material.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for modifying elemental sulfur to produce a .[.material.]. .Iadd.sulfur reaction product .Iaddend.having properties such that it can be used as a substitute for asphalt or portland cement comprising reacting elemental sulfur.Iadd.: .Iaddend. (1) with from 5 to 20 weight percent of the sulfur .Iadd.reaction product .Iaddend.of a first hydrocarbon containing from 4 to 20 carbon atoms.Iadd.; .Iaddend. (a) which is a diolefin or triolefin with the unsaturated portion being reactable with elemental sulfur.Iadd.; .Iaddend.and   (b) which by itself when reacted with elemental sulfur forms a gel.Iadd.; .Iaddend.and     (2) with from 5 to 20 weight percent of the sulfur .Iadd.reaction product .Iaddend.of a second hydrocarbon containing from 2 to 20 carbon atoms.Iadd.; .Iaddend. (a) which is a monolefin reactable with elemental sulfur.Iadd.; .Iaddend.and   (b) which by itself when reacted with sulfur does not form a gel but forms a brittle product.Iadd.; .Iaddend.and   (c) which when the first and second hydrocarbons are so reacted with sulfur prevents said gel from forming;     (3) said reaction being initiated by heating the reactants to a temperature in the range of 120° to 200° C. and sufficiently high to cause an exothermic reaction between the reactants.Iadd.; .Iaddend.and   (4) producing a .Iadd.sulfur reaction .Iaddend.product having a viscosity curve substantially that of asphalt, a penetration of from 5 to 100, a softening point of from 10° C. to 70° C. and a ductility of at least 100.   
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 wherein the first hydrocarbon is dicyclopentadiene in an amount of from 10 to 20 weight percent of the sulfur .Iadd.reaction product.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 1 wherein from 5 to 15 weight percent of the sulfur .Iadd.reaction product .Iaddend.of vinyl toluene is also reacted with the other reactants. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 1 wherein from 5 to 15 weight percent of the sulfur .Iadd.reaction product .Iaddend.of pinene is also reacted with the other reactants. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 1 wherein coal tar is added in an amount of from 5 to 15 weight percent of the reacted product. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 1 wherein a small but effective amount of an organic polysulfide is added to act as a catalyst. 
     
     
       7. A process for converting elemental sulfur into .Iadd.a sulfur reaction product which is .Iaddend.an asphalt or portland cement substitute comprising mixing elemental sulfur with.Iadd.: .Iaddend. (1) a first hydrocarbon selected from dicyclopentadiene, methyl cyclopentadiene, divinyl benzene, cyclooctadiene, cyclododecatriene, octadiene, and myrcene, and   (2) a second hydrocarbon selected from styrene, vinyl toluene, pinene and octene;   said first and second hydrocarbons each being present in an amount in the range of 5 to 20 weight percent of the sulfur .Iadd.reaction product.Iaddend.;   heating the resulting mixture to a temperature of at least 120° C. and high enough to initiate an exothermic reaction, and   recovering a .Iadd.sulfur reaction .Iaddend.product having a viscosity curve substantially that of asphalt, a penetration of from 5 to 100, a softening point of from 10° C. to 70° C. and a ductility of at least 100.   
     
     
       8. The process of claim 7 wherein from 5 to 15 weight percent based on the sulfur .Iadd.reaction product .Iaddend.of vinyl toluene is also mixed with the sulfur to react therewith. 
     
     
       9. The process of claim 7 wherein from 5 to 15 weight percent based on the sulfur .Iadd.reaction product .Iaddend.of pinene is also mixed with the sulfur to react therewith. 
     
     
       10. The process of claim 7 wherein coal tar is added in an amount of from 5 to 15 weight percent of the reacted product. 
     
     
       11. The process of claim 7 wherein a small but effective amount of an organic polysulfide is added to act as a catalyst. 
     
     
       12. A composition having properties such that it can be used as a substitute for asphalt or portland cement comprising the .Iadd.sulfur .Iaddend.reaction product of.Iadd.: .Iaddend. (1) elemental sulfur.Iadd.; .Iaddend.   (2) from 5 to 20 weight percent of the sulfur .Iadd.reaction product .Iaddend.of a first hydrocarbon having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms.Iadd.; .Iaddend. (a) which is a diolefin or a triolefin with the unsaturated portions being reactable with elemental sulfur.Iadd.; .Iaddend.and     (b) which by itself when reacted with elemental sulfur forms a gel.[.,.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.and   (3) from 5 to 20 weight percent of the sulfur .[.to.]. .Iadd.reaction product of .Iaddend.a second hydrocarbon containing from 2 to 20 carbon atoms.Iadd.; .Iaddend. (a) which is a monolefin reactable with elemental sulfur.[.and.]..Iadd.;.Iaddend.   (b) which by itself when reacted with sulfur does not form a gel but forms a brittle product.Iadd.; .Iaddend.and   (c) which when the first and second .[.organic compounds.]. .Iadd.hydrocarbon .Iaddend.are so reacted with sulfur prevents said gel from forming;     said .Iadd.sulfur .Iaddend.reaction product being formed by causing the aforesaid reactants to undergo an exothermic reaction;   said .Iadd.sulfur .Iaddend.reaction product having a viscosity curve substantially that of asphalt, a penetration of from 5 to .[.15.]. .Iadd.100.Iaddend., a softening point of from 10° C. to 70° C. and a ductility of at least 100.   
     
     
       13. The composition of claim .[.10.]. .Iadd.12 .Iaddend.wherein the first hydrocarbon is dicyclopentadiene in an amount of 10 to 20 weight percent of the sulfur .Iadd.reaction product.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       14. The composition of claim .[.13.]. .Iadd.12 .Iaddend.wherein from 5 to 15 weight percent of the sulfur .Iadd.reaction product .Iaddend.of vinyl toluene is also reacted with the other reactants. 
     
     
       15. The composition of claim .[.13.]. .Iadd.12 .Iaddend.wherein from 5 to 15 weight percent of the sulfur .Iadd.reaction product .Iaddend.of pinene is also reacted with the other reactants. 
     
     
       16. The composition of claim 12 wherein coal tar is present in an amount from 5 to 15 weight percent of the .Iadd.sulfur .Iaddend.reaction product. 
     
     
       17. The composition of claim .[.10.]. .Iadd.12 .Iaddend.wherein a small but effective amount of an organic polysulfide is added to act as a catalyst. 
     
     
       18. A material for paving roads and the like comprising: an aggregate bound together by a .[.material.]. .Iadd.sulfur reaction product .Iaddend.made by reacting elemental sulfur.Iadd.:.Iaddend.   (1) with from 5 to 20 weight percent of the sulfur .Iadd.reaction product .Iaddend.of a first hydrocarbon containing from 4 to 20 carbon atoms.Iadd.;.Iaddend. (a) which is a diolefin or triolefin with the unsaturated portion being reactable with elemental sulfur.Iadd.; .Iaddend.and   (b) which by itself when reacted with elemental sulfur forms a gel.Iadd.; .Iaddend.and     (2) with from 5 to 20 weight percent of the sulfur .Iadd.reaction product .Iaddend.of a second hydrocarbon containing from 2 to 20 carbon atoms.Iadd.; .Iaddend. (a) which is a monolefin reactable with elemental sulfur.[.and.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.   (b) which by itself when reacted with sulfur does not form a gel but forms a brittle product.Iadd.; .Iaddend.and   (c) which when the first and second hydrocarbons are so reacted with sulfur prevents said gel from forming;     (3) said reaction being initiated by heating the reactants to a temperature in the range of 120° to 200° C. and sufficiently high to cause an exothermic reaction between the reactants and   (4) producing a .Iadd.sulfur reaction .Iaddend.product having a viscosity curve substantially that of asphalt, a penetration of from 5 to 100, a softening point of from 10° C. to 70° C. and a ductility of at least 100.