PHOTOOXIDATION OF CURED FLUORINATED POLYMERS .2. COMPARISON WITH NON-FLUORINATED POLYETHERS

This series of articles report on the photooxidation of cured fluorina ted polyethers. In the first paper we have studied the oxidation of tw o fluorinated polyethers and a mechanism has been given. Because unexp ected results were obtained, the study has been extended to non-fluori nated polyethers. The oxidation photoproducts are identified by infrar ed analysis of the polymeric matrix coupled to chemical derivatization , and a mechanism accounting for the formation of these products is pr oposed. On the basis of the obtained results, general mechanisms for t he primary oxidation of polyethers can be given, and the role played b y fluorine atoms on the orientation of the reactions can be elucidated . (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Limited