PYROLYSIS STUDIES TO INVESTIGATE EFFECTS OF POLYMERIZATION TECHNIQUESON STRUCTURE AND THERMAL-BEHAVIOR OF POLY(1,2-EPOXY-4-EPOXYETHYLCYCLOHEXANES)

Thermal behaviors of poly(1,2-epoxy-4-epoxyethylcyclohexanes) (poly-EE CH), polymerized by electroinitiation, radiation, and catalytic action of HClO4 and BF3-etharate, have been studied by direct pyrolysis MS a nd evolved gas analyses by mass and FT-IR spectrometric techniques. Di rect pyrolysis experiments indicated that electroinitiated and catalyt ic polymerization of EECH with the use of BF3-etharate produced the le ast stable polymers thermally. High mass peaks were related to the pre sence of blocks propagated through the 1,2-epoxy group, especially in the polymer produced by catalytic action of BF3-etharate. Crosslinked structures were also justified by thermal analysis. Production of low molecular weight compounds such as CO, CO2, CH3OH, ethylene oxide, met hylpropionate, and cyclohexane was investigated by evolved gas analysi s.