DEGRADATION OF UNSATURATED POLYMERS BY OLEFIN METATHESIS

Degradation of unsaturated polymers by olefin metathesis (''MUP degrad ation'') followed by identification of the low-molecular-weight degrad ation products with a combination of gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) is a valuable method for structure investigation. Th e examples discussed here are the investigation of butadiene copolymer s containing silicon in the comonomer and of products obtained by subs equent modification or crosslinking of poly(butadiene-alt-propene). MU P degradation is also useful for the determination of fillers in a cro sslinked polymer matrix. The degradation to soluble polymers is suffic ient here. The example under consideration is determination of carbon black in vulcanizates of natural rubber.