Degradation Reactions in Polymers

The photothermal degradation of copolymers of methyl methacrylate and n-butyl acrylate covering the whole composition range has been studied at 165C. The gaseous and liquid products, which consist of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane, methyl methacrylate, n-butyl acrylate, n-butanol and n-butyraldehyde were analyzed quantitatively using a gas chromatographic technique and the yields related to copolymer composition. Differences from the thermal reaction and the corresponding reaction in copolymers of methyl methacrylate and methyl acrylate are discussed. It is shown that a number of aromatic compounds, both carbocyclic and heterocyclic, may be copolymerized with dimethoxy-p-xylene with stannic chloride as catalyst. Purification of materials and preparations of copolymers are described. The preparations and thermal degradation of a number of polydimethyl siloxanes are also described.