Reducing copper corrosiveness of organic polysulfides

摘要

The invention provides a process of reducing the copper corrosiveness of dihydrocarbyl polysulfides by treating them with an alkali metal-containing or alkaline earth metal-containing substance capable of dissolving elemental sulfur (e.g., sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide, etc.). The process is conducted in a liquid reaction medium composed of a mixture of water and at least one water-soluble alcohol. Experiments have shown that it is possible by use of this process to reduce the copper corrosiveness to a level below that exhibited by a product formed by treating the same initial dihydrocarbyl polysulfide in the same way but in a liquid medium composed solely of water.