Xs. Zhu et al., Infrared and thermogravimetric studies of thermal degradation of polystyrene in the presence of ammonium sulfate, POLYM DEGR, 62(3), 1998, pp. 487-494
Thermal and thermo-oxidative degradation of polystyrene (PS), in the presen
ce of ammonium sulfate, was studied with thermogravimetry (TG) and infrared
spectroscopy (IR). Thermogravimetry results indicated that ammonium sulfat
e accelerated thermal degradation in nitrogen but delayed thermo-oxidative
degradation of PS in air. IR analysis of tetrahydrofuran extracts, from the
samples degraded at 340 degrees C, and of residues after thermal treatment
at 340 degrees C in a muffle furnance, showed that the acceleration of the
rmal degradation and the suppression of thermo-oxidative degradation were d
ue to sulfonation and oxidation of ammonium sulfate and its decomposition p
roducts, and formation of unsaturated structures in the PS chain. (C) 1998
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