SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND THERMAL-DEGRADATION OF POLY[(2-PHENYL-1,3-DIOXOLANE-4-YL)METHYL METHACRYLATE]

(2-Phenyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-yl)methyl methacrylate prepared from glycidy l methacrylate and benzaldehyde has been polymerized by benzoyl peroxi de. Spectroscopic characterization of the monomer and the polymer has been done by means of Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) and H-1 and C -13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. Also, the techniq ues of gel permeation chromatography and differential scanning calorim etry have been used in the polymer characterization. Thermal degradati on of poly[2-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-yl)methyl methacrylate] has been s tudied by thermogravimetric analysis and FTIR. Volatile products of th e degradation have been investigated by FTIR, H-1 and C-13-NMR and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. The degradation to 270 d egrees C of this polymer gives only the monomer. Side-chain decomposit ions mainly occur in degradation above 270 degrees C, including decomp osition of the 1,3-dioxolane ring. Total degradation to 500 degrees C produces many volatile product such as the monomer, benzaldehyde, acro lein, acetone, 2-phenyl-4-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxolane, 4-methylene-2-p henyl-1,3-dioxolane, propane, carbon dioxide and others. A mechanism o f degradation showing the formation of some of these products is discu ssed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.