Sulfur vulcanization a substantial fraction of natural and synthetic rubber. Reclaimed rubber has altered properties and is unsuitable for use in many products, including tires. Tires and other vulcanized products are potentially amenable to devulcanization, but this technology has not produced material that can supplant unvulcanized materials. The main problem is that the carbon-sulfur linkages are not readily broken, without the input of costly reagents and heat. Thus, more than half of scrap rubber is simply burned for fuel. Although polymeric sulfur is unstable and decomposes back to its monomer, it is possible to create stable polymers consisting mostly of sulfur via
The Sulphur Institute addresses environmental and safety issues surrounding the transportation, production, and storage of sulfur. The Sulphur Institute's program allows regulatory agencies and industry stakeholders to connect, exchange knowledge, and develop practices which improve the safety of the industry. The Sulphur Institute provides members, government and non-government agencies, and industry stakeholders accurate information on sulfur. TSI has served as a source of industry information for many publications including the Wall Street Journal. TSI is often quoted by publications within the industry as well. The information gathered by TSI is made available through a number of publications, webinars, and speaking engagements. The Sulphur