Thermal Degradation Behavior of Vinyl Ketone Polymers and Copolymers with Styrene

Thermal degradation behavior of six alkyl vinyl ketone (RVK) polymers and copolymers with styrene was investigated by means of infrared spectrometry (IR), thermogravimetry (TG), derivative TG (DTG), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The observed TG curves of the RVK polymers changed with both structure of their substituents and initiators used, and the temperature of the beginning of weight loss for the radical polymers increased in the order: poly(methyl isopro-penyl ketone) < poly(methyl vinyl ketone) < poly(ethyl vinyl ketone) < poly(isopropyl vinyl ketone) < poly(tert-butyl vinyl ketone). From the infrared spectral determination of thermally degraded polymers, the formation of a cyclized structure was observed. It was also found from the results of thermal degradation of the RVK copolymers with styrene at 210° C that the formation of such a cyclized unit tended to increase in the order: tert-butyl vinyl ketone < isopropyl vinyl ketone < ethyl vinyl ketone < methyl vinyl ketone.