ISSN:
0887-624X
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Polymer and Materials Science
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
The thermal degradation of vinylidene chloride/methyl acrylate/phenylacetylene (VDC/MA/PA) terpolymers containing a constant 9 wt % methyl acrylate and small but varying amounts of phenylacetylene has been examined in the solid phase and in bibenzyl solution. Thermally promoted degradative dehydrochlorination, largely uncomplicated by methyl chloride formation, readily occurs at temperatures approaching 200°C. Incorporation of phenylacetylene into the polymer structure greatly facilitates degradative dehydrochlorination. Indeed, the presence of phenylacetylene induces the formation of polyene segments during the polymerization so that all the terpolymers, even at very low phenylacetylene loading, are tan in color. The decreased stability of polymers containing internal unsaturation arises from an increased rate of initiation for the degradation reaction. The propagation rate is largely unaffected by the level of unsaturation initially present in the polymer. Thus random double bonds have been identified as the principal defect sites responsible for the facile degradation of Saran copolymers. Species which promote the degradation of Saran polymers probably do so by facilitating the introduction of double bonds into the structure. The ratio of hydrogen chloride to stilbene formed for degradation of the terpolymers in bibenzyl solution is ca. 35:1. This is strongly reminiscent of PVDC degradation and suggests that for degradation of either the homopolymer or Saran copolymers the chain-carrying allylic radical pair does not dissociate to any appreciable extent as dehydrochlorination occurs.
Additional Material:
2 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pola.1987.080250622
