Ozone destruction of some trans-polydienes

The most important natural and synthetic elastomers have a polydiene struct ure and, consequently, are susceptible to attack of ozone, a natural compon ent of the atmosphere. A natural polymer (guttapercha) and synthetic polyme rs of commercial interest (trans-polyisoprene, trans-polybutadiene, trans-p olypentenamer, trans-polyoctenamer, polychloroprene) have been exposed to a mixture of air and ozone in various concentrations, and at temperatures of 30 and 50 degrees C. Infrared spectroscopy was used to follow the structur al modifications consisting of formation of oxygen-bearing groups, as well as to reveal some kinetic aspects of the destruction process. The compariso n of the results obtained in investigation of the reaction of ozone with Ir ans-polydienes and cis-polydienes allow some comments on the influence of t he double bond structure on the mechanism involved and on the resulting pro ducts. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.