THERMAL-DEGRADATION STUDIES OF COPOLYMERS OF CHLOROTRIFLUOROETHYLENE AND METHYL-METHACRYLATE

The thermal degradation of the homopolymers and a series of copolymers of chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) and methyl methacrylate (MMA), prep ared by emulsion polymerisation, have been studied using thermogravime try and thermal volatilisation analysis (TVA). The products of degrada tion have been separated by subambient TVA and characterised by infra- red spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. PCTFE degrades to give monomer as a major product; the emulsion PMMA sample degrades to give a high yield of monomer, but also gives small amounts of additional products, in contrast to PMMA samples previously studied made by bulk or soluti on polymerisation. In the degradation of the copolymers, monomer forma tion is predominant, but some lactonisation is observed, with release of methyl chloride: other features of the degradation are explained by various radical reactions. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Limited