Carbon disulfide sonopolymer: a comparison with other carbon disulfide polymers

Intense ultrasonic treatment caused CS2 sonolysis with formation of several products like sulfur, carbon subsulfide C3S2, and a black insoluble sonopo lymer. The sonolysis products was analyzed by electronic spectroscopy and l iquid chromatography (HPLC). The black insoluble sonopolymer was studied in detail by FT-IR spectroscopy and was found to be chemically similar to the CS2 photopolymer and to the piezopolymer. FT-IR shows that the sonopolymer prepared at room temperature is the ladder carbon subsulfide polymer (C3S2 )(x), having the linear polymer -[S-(C=S)-S-(C=S)-](x)-, as minor component . When sonication is conducted at -78 degrees C, FT-IR spectrum shows that the sonopolymer in addition to carbon subsulfide polymer (C3S2)(x) contains the carbon disulfide dimer (C2S4) previously detected in the piezopolymer. A discussion of the mechanism of sonolysis of carbon disulfide shows that t he "hot spot" theory involving high pressure and temperature generated by c avitational bubbles can explain the results at -78 degrees C, but not at ro om temperature. To explain sonolysis at 0 degrees C or higher temperature, electric breakdown inside cavitational bubbles should be considered.