THERMAL-DEGRADATION OF POLYTHIOPHENE NATURAL-RUBBER AND POLYTHIOPHENESYNTHETIC RUBBER CONDUCTING POLYMER COMPOSITES

Thermal degradation of conducting polymer composites of polythiophene and rubbers was studied by direct and indirect pyrolysis mass spectrom etry techniques. The samples were prepared by electrooxidation of poly thiophene using natural rubber or synthetic rubber as the insulating m atrix. Presence of decomposition products which were not observed duri ng pyrolysis of pure polythiophene and rubbers, and disappearance of r ubber-based pyrolysis mass peaks, together with changes in thermal sta bility and behaviour, may directly be related to a chemical interactio n between the components of the composites. The pyrolysis data were us ed to propose possible polymerization and degradation mechanisms. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.