THERMAL-BEHAVIOR AND DEGRADATION MECHANISM OF BROMINATED POLYSTYRENES

Polystyrene samples have been brominated under various conditions. p-B romostyrene has been polymerized using alpha,alpha'-azobisisobutyronit rile as initiator. The thermal behavior of these brominated polystyren es was investigated by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and thermogravimetric analysis. The polymers have been characterized a lso by infrared spectroscopy and molecular weight measurements were ca rried out. The nature and the composition of the pyrolysis products ga ve useful indications about the structure and the mechanism of degrada tion of the brominated polymers.