Synthesis and characterization of aliphatic polysulfides by interfacial polycondensation of sodium tetrasulfide with dichloroalkanes in the presence of quaternary onium salts

Poly(alkylenetetrasulfide) [poly(R-S-4-R)] polymers with R = Me, Et, or Bu are prepared from alkylene dichloride and sodium tetrasulfide by an interfacial polycondensation technique using two quarternary ammonium salts as phase transfer catalysts. FT-IR, X-ray, and elemental analysis have characterized the synthesized polymers. Thermal properties were measured by thermogravimetric analysis and calorimetric differential scanning. Swelling procedure was used to investigate the solvent resistance of the polymers.