THERMAL STUDIES OF METAL POLY(4-METHYL STYRENE-CO-STYRENE) WITH BPO .17.

Metal poly(4-methyl styrene-co-styrene) copolymers were obtained by ra dical polymerization with benzoyl peroxide. The monomers were coconden sed simultaneously with the metals: Pd, Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Ga, In, Ge, Sn , Sb, and Bi. The metals were evaporated to produce atoms and with the monomer they can generate a matrix at 77 K. After the warm up process , metal comonomer colloids can be obtained. The colloids were polymeri zed with benzoyl peroxide at 70 degrees C for 0.5 h at 70 degrees C. F our different initiator concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.5 mol %) w ere used. The yields are around 25% and the viscosimetric molecular we ight ranges from 10(4)-10(5) g/mol. The higher (M) over bar nu are Ag, Ga and Sn-poly(4-methyl styrene-co-styrene). The thermal stabilities of these metal polymers have been studied by thermogravimetry (TG) bet ween 25 and 550 degrees C under nitrogen flow. The decomposition tempe rature was obtained from the maximum of the first derivative from TG c urve. The kinetic parameters of the thermal decomposition were determi ned by the Arrhenius equation. All these copolymers degrade in a singl e step around 300 degrees C. The kinetic data thus obtained show the t hermostabilities decrease in the order: Ga-(4-MeS-S) > Sb-(4-MeS-S) > Ge-(4-MeS-S) > In-(4-MeS-S) > Zn-(4-MeS-S) > Ag-(4-MeS-S) > Pd-(4-MeS- S) > Cu-(4-MeS-S) > Sn-(4-MeS-S) > Au-(4-MeS-S) > Bi-(4-MeS-S). The th ermal stability is depending upon the amount and metal incorporated in the polymer matrix. The decomposition reaction order is zero and we a re in the presence of a single decomposition reaction. The pre-exponen tial factor, the activation energy, the reaction order and the decompo sition temperature for all the copolymers have been determined.