FTIR EMISSION-SPECTROSCOPY APPLIED TO POLYMER DEGRADATION

The thermal degradation of some common polymers was investigated using infrared emission spectroscopy. The potential of the technique to con tribute to polymer degradation studies is demonstrated by measuring th e spectroscopic changes that occur during thermal degradation, oxidati on or decomposition of polymers under air at temperatures ranging from 150 to 250 degrees C. Polymer types studied include EPDM and nitrile rubbers (commercial materials containing some inorganic fillers), PMMA , PAN, PA, PVC and PS. The resulting qualitative changes in the polyme rs were easily detected, and were correlated with the current knowledg e on the degradation mechanisms of these materials. These include simp le carbonyl formation and related oxidative reactions, weight loss and volatilization, as well as formation of conjugation and specific poly mer reactions. Some fundamental aspects and limitations of the techniq ue are discussed to demonstrate the intrinsic difficulties of attempti ng to determine precise emittances and ultimately quantitative spectro scopic information. FTIR emission appears to be promising for studying in situ polymer degradation. Published by Elsevier Science Limited.