DEGRADATION OF COPOLYMERS OF ANILINE AND METANILIC ACID

The degradation of aniline-metanilic acid copolymer (PMA) by potentios tatic anodic polarisation was compared with the degradation of polyani line (PAn) in order to understand the function of the pendant groups i n polymer degradation. The degradation of PMA was believed to follow t he same reaction pathway as the unmodified PAn, namely by attack of wa ter molecules on oxidised polymer in the bipolaronic state. The presen ce of sulphonate curtailed. the bipolaron production and increased the steric hindrance in degradative hydrolysis, so that the degradation o f polymer was inhibited as a result. It is concluded that the pendant groups on the PAn backbone only moderated the electroactivity of the l inear PAn chains in degree but not in kind.