STUDY ON THE MECHANOCHEMICAL DEGRADATION OF POLYBUTADIENE IN SOLUTIONBY ULTRAHIGH-SPEED STIRRING

The mechanochemical degradation of polybutadiene in solution, by ultra high speed stirring, was investigated in order to obtain information c oncerning the influence of some parameters on the reaction. As a measu re of the mechanodegradation's efficiency, the relative modification o f molecular weight was considered. It was correlated with some paramet ers of the process, namely duration, concentration, stirring speed, re action medium (solvent, gaseous atmosphere), and temperature. It was o bserved that the type of solvent and the temperature, especially very low temperatures (-40 degrees C), have the most important influence on the degradation efficiency. On the basis of the obtained results, the mechanochemical synthesis of block copolymers based on polybutadiene with some vinylic and acrylic monomers may be performed.