VISCOMETRIC STUDY OF CHAIN SCISSION IN POLYSTYRENE

A novel approach based on dilute-solution viscometry was developed par ticularly for monitoring the slow rates of random chain scission react ions. It was applied to study the kinetics of the thermal degradation of bulk polystyrene (PS), in the presence of N-2 at 180 degrees C. Res ults on the rate constant obtained from two PS samples, which conform to a Schulz distribution and a Wesslau distribution function, are in g ood agreement. Special features of these functions were exploited to m ake the present method more attractive and practical. (C) 1996 Elsevie r Science Limited