STRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN CURING OF POLY(PHENYLENE SULFIDE)

The structure development during melt curing of poly(phenylene sulfide ) (PPS) is reported. The changes in the structure were monitored using various characterization techniques such as differential scanning cal orimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and optic al microscopy. It was observed that the thermal parameters such as mel ting point and heat of fusion are very sensitive to die structural cha nges and can be effectively used to monitor the curing process. The ef fect of curing environment was also investigated, and it was found tha t the rate of change of structure is considerably higher in air than i n nitrogen. The results are discussed on the basis of the different me chanisms for curing of PPS.