Thermal and photodegradation of glycidyl azide polymers

Glycidyl azide polymers (GAP) with molecular weights of 1100 and 2150 were cured with toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) at 60 degrees C. Thermal stability of GAPs and their cured products were stud ied by TG, DTA and DSC measurements. The polymers and their cured products were stable up to 160 degrees C and completely decomposed between 248 degre es and 280 degrees C with a two-stage decomposition mechanism producing N-2 in the first stage and CO2, CO, H2O, H-2 subsequently. As the azide polyme rs are photosensitive, the photodecomposition leading to crosslinking of GA Ps through the production of nitrene radical was studied under intense UV i rradiation. Acceleration of the photo insolubility of GAPs can be achieved by the addition of an unsaturated hydrocarbon polymer like Herlene 525 or p oly(ethylene-propylene-ethylene norbornene), where the nitrene radical of G APs reacted with > C = C < resulting in crosslinking through the formation of an aziridine ring. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserve d.