PERFLUOROCYCLOBUTANE AROMATIC ETHER POLYMERS .2. THERMAL OXIDATIVE STABILITY AND DECOMPOSITION OF A THERMOSET POLYMER

The results of thermal and oxidative stability studies are reported fo r one perfluorocyclobutane aromatic ether thermoset polymer. The polym er was prepared from 1,1,1-tris(4-trifluorovinyloxyphenyl)ethane by th e thermal cyclodimerization of the trifluorovinyl ether functionality, resulting in a network polymer comprising alternating perfluorocyclob utane and aromatic ether groups. The results of isothermal and dynamic thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) studies are reported with kinetic approximations for decomposition in nitrogen, along with FTIR studies of the oxidative process in air and TGA/mass spec determination of the gasses evolved from decomposition in air. Based on these results, the rmal and oxidative decomposition mechanisms are proposed. (C) 1995 Joh n Wiley and Sons, Inc.