Sulfur compounds and method of making same

A process for converting elemental sulfur into an asphalt or portland cement substitute comprising mixing elemental sulfur with

• (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;
• heating the resulting mixture to a temperature of at least 120.degree. C. and high enough to initiate an exothermic reaction, and
• recovering a product having a viscosity curve substantially that of asphalt, a penetration of from 5 to 100, a softening point of from 10.degree. C. to 70.degree. C. and a ductility of at least 100.

A composition having properties such that it can be used as a substitute for asphalt or portland cement comprising the reaction product of

• (1) elemental sulfur
• (2) from 5 to 20 weight percent of the sulfur of a first hydrocarbon having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms
• (a) which is a diolefin or a triolefin with the unsaturated portions being reactable with elemental sulfur and
• (b) which by itself when reacted with elemental sulfur forms a gel, and
• (3) from 5 to 20 weight percent of the sulfur to a second hydrocarbon containing from 2 to 20 carbon atoms
• (a) which is a monolefin reactable with elemental sulfur and
• (b) which by itself when reacted with sulfur does not form a gel but forms a brittle product and
• (c) which when the first and second organic compounds are so reacted with sulfur prevents said gel from forming;
• said reaction product being formed by causing the aforesaid reactants to undergo an exothermic reaction;
• said reaction product having a viscosity curve substantially that of asphalt, a penetration of from 5 to 15, a softening point of from 10.degree. C. to 70.degree. C. and a ductility of at least 100.

A material for paving roads and the like comprising:

• an aggregate bound together by a material made by reacting elemental sulfur
• (1) with from 5 to 20 weight percent of the sulfur of a first hydrocarbon containing from 4 to 20 carbon atoms
• (a) which is a diolefin or triolefin with the unsaturated portion being reactable with elemental sulfur and
• (b) which by itself when reacted with elemental sulfur forms a gel and
• (2) with from 5 to 20 weight percent of the sulfur of a second hydrocarbon containing from 2 to 20 carbon atoms
• (a) which is a monolefin reactable with elemental sulfur and
• (b) which by itself when reacted with sulfur does not form a gel but forms a brittle product 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.degree. to 200.degree. C. and sufficiently high to cause an exothermic reaction between the reactants and
• (4) producing a product having a viscosity curve substantially that of asphalt, a penetration of from 5 to 100, a softening point of from 10.degree. C. to 70.degree. C. and a ductility of at least 100.