Accession Number:

ADA235284

Title:

Thermal Degradation Chemistry of Poly(Diphenoxyphosphazene)

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept. no. 8, 1 Jun 1989-31 May 1990

Corporate Author:

TEXAS A AND M UNIV COLLEGE STATION DEPT OF CHEMISTRY

Personal Author(s):

• Maynard, Shawn
• Sharp, Tom
• Haw, James F.

Report Date:

1991-04-25

Pagination or Media Count:

9.0

Abstract:

The thermal degradation of polydiphenoxyphosphazene has been reexamined with emphasis on the roles of P-CI and P-OH weak links. The polymers studied had residual chlorine contents of 0.05, 2.4, and 9.9. Thermal degradations were performed either in a synamic mode on the direct insertion probe of a mass spectrometer or under isothermal conditions in sealed ampules at temperatures up to 40 C. Several model compounds products observed from the synamic degradation of the polymers were also subjected to isothermal degradation in order to better distinguish between primary and secondary products. The primary degradation products included chlorine-containing cyclic trimer and tetramer species, which were themselves too unstable to be observed in isothermal degradation of the cyclic oligomers rather than as a primary product from polymer chain ends, as had been previously suggested. Hydrolysis of P-CI weak links was obtained only with difficulty, requiring steam treatment. Steam hydrolysis reduced the thermal stability of polymers with high initial P- CI contents.

Descriptors:

• *PHOSPHAZENE
• *THERMAL PROPERTIES
• THERMAL STABILITY
• CYCLES
• CHEMISTRY
• RESIDUALS
• CHAINS
• MASS SPECTROMETERS
• HYDROLYSIS
• THERMAL DEGRADATION
• ISOTHERMS
• OLIGOMERS
• CHLORINE
• SEALED SYSTEMS
• AMPULES
• POLYMERS
• MASS SPECTROMETRY
• DEGRADATION

Subject Categories:

• Polymer Chemistry

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE