Thermal properties and degradation behavior of poly(arylenephthalides) based on 4,4 '-bis(3-hloro-3-phthalidyl)terphenyl

The degradation in air and under inert atmosphere of individual and mixed 4 ,4'-bis(3-chloro-3-phthalidyl)terphenyl-based poly(arylenephthalides) diffe ring in the ratio of terphenyl and fluorenyl (diphenyl oxide) moieties in t he backbone was studied. The rate constants and activation energies of the thermal degradation for the studied polymers were determined. It was found that the rate constant of the thermal degradation of poly(arylenephthalides ) shows an extremum dependence on their composition. It was established tha t a fluorene group possesses a low stability to thermooxidative degradation . The contribution of separate groups to the coke production was calculated by the Van Krevelen equation, and it was demonstrated that this equation c an be used to determine the coking values of poly(arylenephthalides).