ANALYSIS OF VOLATILES EVOLVED DURING HIGH-TEMPERATURE TREATMENT OF THERMALLY STABLE POLYMERS .2. POLYBUTADIYNE

Polybutadiyne samples were heated at 20 degrees C/min up to 1200 degre es C in a pyroprobe attached to a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS). Analysis of the volatiles evolved during heating identified c arbon dioxide (adsorbed on polymer surface), methane, ethylene, benzen e, toluene, and traces of higher aromatics. Correlations have been mad e between sample temperature and evolution (onset, maximum, and end te mperatures) of each of the five listed volatiles. Average polybutadiyn e weight loss at 1200 degrees C was 14 +/- 2%. Two cure studies were p erformed in the pyroprobe, and it was shown that both weight loss and volatile evolution were affected. The results were consistent with a h igher degree of polymer crosslinking as cure time and temperature incr eased. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.