Influence of polyesterurethane plasticizer on the kinetics of poly(vinyl chloride) decomposition process

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), plasticized by di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), medium molecular mass polyesterurethane (PU) or by both plasticizers, was thermally degraded under dynamic thermogravimetric conditions and the kinetics of decomposition was studied by isoconversional methods and by non-linear regression. It has been found that the initial decomposition temperature is higher for PVC plasticized with PU, as compared with PVC plasticized with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) or plasticized with PU/DEHP, and thermal degradation shows features of a multi-step complex process. Application of polymeric plasticizer leads to the increase and a 'smoothing' effect in the course of energy of activation and pre-exponential factor at the initial stage of decomposition indicating thus the hindered migration of medium molecular mass compound from PVC matrix (in comparison with PVC containing monomeric DEHP) due to steric hindrances as well as due to specific interactions between C=O and Cl groups along the macrochains. Kinetic model function of the decomposition process of PVC/DEHP and PVC/DEHP/PU blends was found to be a two-stage autocatalyzed reaction of n^th order; autocatalytic effect is associated most likely with the role of HCl formed during PVC decomposition. For PVC/PU blend best fit was found by non-linear regression for a two-stage scheme in which first stage was Prout-Tompkins model and the second was autocatalytical model of n^th order - the first one involves particle disintegration, which was promoted by product generation at branching PVC 'pseudo-crystals' nuclei, thus exposing more surface on which decomposition reaction proceeds.     

High-temperature pyrolysis of poly(vinyl chloride): Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of the pyrolysis products from PVC resin and plastisols

A pyrolysis–gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric technique for analyzing the pyrolysis products from polymers in an inert atmosphere is described. Initial studies encompassing the pyrolysis of poly(vinyl chloride) homopolymer and a series of PVC plastisols (based on o-phthalate esters) have provided a complete qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of the pyrolysis products from these materials. PVC resin yields a series of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons when pyrolyzed at 600°C; the amount of aromatic products is greater than the amount of aliphatic products. Benzene is the major organic degradation product. A typical PVC plastisol [PVC/o-dioctyl phthalate (100/60)] yields, upon pyrolysis, products that are characteristic of both the PVC matrix and the phthalate plasticizer. The pyrolysis products from the plasticizer dilute those from the PVC portion of the plastisol and are, in turn, the major degradation products. There are no degradation products resulting from an interaction of the PVC with the plastisol. The pyrograms resulting from pyrolysis of the various plastisols of PVC can be used for purposes of “fingerprinting.” Identification of the major peaks in a typical plastisol pyrogram provides information leading to a precise identification of the plasticizer. The pyrolysis data from this study were related to a special case of flammability and toxicity.     

Selective Substitution Reactions on PVC. Lability of Some “Normal” Structures

The nucleophilic substitution reaction on PVC with sodium thiophenate in cyclohexanone solution is studied. The reaction appears to be S_N2 substitution and it involves three different steps with decreasing reaction constants. By using ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy, the fast step is proposed to be due to the high reactivity of the central chlorine in isotactic triads and, to a lesser extent, in heterotactic triads. The study of the thermal degradation of the modified samples shows that during the fast step of substitution a stabilizing effect occurs, and that as soon as the first step is over, the polymer stability decreases markedly. These effects are accompanied by changes in poly-ene distribution as proved by UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy study on degraded samples. The results, as discussed on the basis of the possible conformations of triads in PVC, suggest that some chlorine atoms in both the GTTG isotactic and the TTTG heterotactic triads should be considered as labile structures in PVC. It follows from the results obtained that on the one hand the initiation of degradation may occur by normal structures, and on the other the build-up of polyenes is favored by the presence of …TTTT… sequences. Both features contributing to a better understanding of the degradation of PVC.     

Photooxidation of PVC

Pure and peroxided PVC films were irradiated under monochromatic ultraviolet light between 300 and 400 nm. The degradation state of PVC is measured by means of carbonyl absorption in the infrared spectra and polyene content by UV spectroscopy. The initial rate of carbonyl formation depends on the wavelengths and oxidized impurities content. Peroxided PVC is oxidized faster than pure PVC with wavelengths above 320 nm. Two hazardous ranges of wavelengths have been detected: 300–320 and 350–370 nm. Good protection of PVC against UV radiation can be assured by the exclusion of wavelengths under 380 nm.     

Migration of Additives from Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) Tubes into Aqueous Media

The stability and migration product of medical PVC tubes plasticized with polyadipates were investigated by ageing in phosphate buffer at pH 1.679 and water at different temperatures. Changes in the PVC tubes were studied by water absorption, weight loss, Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The low molecular weight migration product that was released was extracted and silylanized before gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) identification and quantification. After 70 days, the weight loss was less than 0.5% and only a small amount of adipic acid migrated when a tube was aged at 37°C in water and phosphate buffer (pH 1.679), and at 70°C in water after 56 days. However, when aged at 70 and 110°C, gradual deactivation of heat stabilizer after 21 days of ageing in buffer solution and separation of plasticizer from PVC matrix occurred. When the tube was aged at 110°C, significant degradation of both polyadipates and PVC were observed. Adipic acid and 1,4-butanediol monomers and oligomers of polyadipate were the major migration products from polyadipates in the water ageing solution, while only a relatively high amount of adipic acid was identified as the main product in the buffer ageing solution.     

Studies of the effects of copper, copper(II) oxide and copper(II) chloride on the thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride)

Investigations of the pyrolysis of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in the presence of copper metal (Cu), copper(II) oxide (CuO) and copper(II) chloride (CuCl₂) are of potential importance because of the likelihood of the formation of these copper compounds during the thermal degradation of PVC-coated copper wires, a step in the recovery of copper from waste. The presence of Cu, CuO and CuCl₂ (i) retards the thermal degradation of PVC in air and in nitrogen and (ii) decreases the percentages of volatile products produced at both stages of the decomposition. These effects are greatest for PVC-CuO. The presence of copper, CuO or CuCl₂ in PVC has a major effect on the nature of the gaseous emissions of the thermal decomposition in air and in nitrogen. The concentrations of total chlorine, aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons and soot particulates are all affected relative to an equivalent amount of PVC. These changes are greatest for the PVC-CuO system for which total chlorine emissions in air and nitrogen are reduced by 40% in air and 20% in nitrogen, benzene emissions are reduced by greater than 90% in air and nitrogen, other aromatic and chloroaromatic emissions are reduced, and soot particulate emissions are reduced by more than 50% as the concentrations of aliphatic compounds are increased. These changes are consistent with the presence of copper or its compounds permitting more efficient combustion of the carbon content of the PVC and particularly in the case of PVC-CuO with the removal of chlorine during pyrolysis in the inorganic phase.     

Photo-oxidation of poly(vinyl chloride)

The photo-oxidation of PVC has been studied over the temperature range 30–150°C. Initiation with ultraviolet (2537A) radiation has been correlated with the presence of minute amounts of ozone. The contribution of atomic oxygen and singlet oxygen (¹Δ_g) molecules to the initiation mechanism is discussed. The β-chloroketones probably formed in the photo-oxidation of PVC, decomposed according to a Norrish type I reaction without loss of chlorine atoms. The gaseous products of the photo-oxidation of PVC at 30°C were carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and methane. Hydrogen chloride was obtained only when PVC was heated at high temperatures. When PVC was photo-oxidized and then heated at high temperature, benzene was obtained in addition to hydrogen chloride. The gaseous products from the photo-oxidations of model compounds, such as 4-chloro-2-butanone and 2,4-dichloropentane, were also compared with those from PVC. Hydrogen chloride was detected only after photo-oxidation at temperatures of 25°C or higher. Therefore, it was concluded that hydrogen chloride is mainly a product of thermal decomposition. Since unsaturation was not observed in photo-oxidized PVC films, the cause of discoloration is unclear. When PVC was modified by stabilizers or additives, the oxidative degradation was further complicated by side reactions with the additives.     

Mechanism of poly(vinyl chloride) stabilization by mixtures of zinc and calcium carboxylates with various complexing agents

Investigations were made on the effects of zinc and calcium carboxylates, polyols and other oxygen-containing compounds, nitrogen- and sulphur-containing compounds and of mixtures of zinc calcium carboxylates, zinc carboxylates-complexing agent, calcium carboxylate-complexing agent and of zinc carboxylate-calcium carboxylate-complexing agent upon the rate of dehydrochlorination and crosslinking and on the absorption spectrum of PVC during degradation in vacuum at 180°. The interaction of the stabilizers with 2-chlorobutane (a model for normal units of PVC) was studied at 180°. It was shown that, in the thermal degradation of PVC, zinc carboxylates give synergistic mixtures with compounds having -OH, -SH or -NH groups. In the thermal degradation of PVC in the presence of mixtures of zinc carboxylates with polyols, there are exchanges between chloro-containing groups of PVC and carboxylic groups of salt and alcohol residue. Zinc salts also catalyze the interaction of polyols with double (particularly conjugated double) bonds of degraded PVC. The investigated compounds do not form synergistic mixtures with calcium carboxylates. The triple mixtures of zinc and calcium carboxylates with complexing agents are more effective stabilizers of PVC than the binary mixtures zinc carboxylate-calcium carboxylate and zinc carboxylate-complexing agent. The mechanism of synergistic interaction in PVC stabilization by these mixtures are discussed.     

Graft modification of poly(vinyl chloride) and related reactions

Cationically polymerizable olefins can be efficiently grafted onto poly(vinyl chloride) in the presence of alkylaluminum compounds. The substitution of labile chlorines in PVC by various branches yields a product of improved thermal stability as compared with unmodified PVC. Thus the grafting of a few per cent of polyisobutylene or poly-butadiene onto PVC gives graft copolymers superior in thermal stability to the PVC backbone, as determined by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses as well as color development of molded films. At advanced stages of thermal degradation the thermal stability of poly(vinyl chloride)-g-isobutylene) (PVC-g-PIB is some 40°C superior to the unmodified PVC. In addition to grafting of polymer chains onto the PVC backbone, other methods are also available to achieve improved thermal stability. In pentane suspension, alkylaluminum compounds efficiently alkylate labile chlorines in PVC, and the product exhibits improved thermal stability. Alternatively, PVC carbonium ions can alkylate aromatic compounds, and these products also exhibit high heat stability. Based on the assumption that certain alkylaluminums quantitatively react with labile chlorines in PVC, it was estimated that 2–3% of the chlorines present in suspension-grade PVC are labile.     

A thermal degradation mechanism of polyvinyl alcohol/silica nanocomposites

The thermal degradation mechanism of a novel polyvinyl alcohol/silica (PVA/SiO₂) nanocomposite prepared with self-assembly and solution-compounding techniques is presented. Due to the presence of SiO₂ nanoparticles, the thermal degradation of the nanocomposite, compared to that of pure PVA, occurs at higher temperatures, requires more reaction activation energy (E), and possesses higher reaction order (n). The PVA/SiO₂ nanocomposite, similar to the pure PVA, thermally degrades as a two-step-degradation in the temperature ranges of 300-450 °C and 450-550 °C, respectively. However, the introduction of SiO₂ nanoparticles leads to a remarkable change in the degradation mechanism. The degradation products identified by Fourier transform infrared/thermogravimetric analysis (FTIR/TGA) and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometric analysis (Py-GC/MS) suggests that the first degradation step of the nanocomposite mainly involves the elimination reactions of H₂O and residual acetate groups as well as quite a few chain-scission reactions. The second degradation step is dominated by chain-scission reactions and cyclization reactions, and continual elimination of residual acetate groups is also found in this step.     

Isothermal Degradation of PVC/MBS Blends

The process of thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride)/poly(methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene) (PVC/MBS) blends was investigated by means of isothermal thermogravimetry in nitrogen. The total mass loss was determined after 120 min. The kinetic parameters of the degradation process were determined by applying two kinetic models: the model which assumes autocatalytic degradation (Prout-Tompkins) and the model of two-dimensional diffusion. It was established that the thermal degradation at lower degrees of conversion (α<0.20) was well described by the former model, but the latter model was applicable at higher degrees of conversion. The thermal stability of blends at a certain temperature of isothermal degradation depends on the blend composition and the shell/core ratio in MBS, and on the adhesion in the boundary layer in PVC/MBS blends. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal degradation of PVC cable insulation studied by simultaneous TG-FTIR and TG-EGA methods

Thermogravimetry (TG/DTG) coupled with evolved gas analysis (MS detection) of volatiles was used to characterize the thermal behavior of commercial PVC cable insulation material during heating in the range 20-800°C in air and nitrogen, respectively. In addition, simultaneous TG/FTIR was used to elucidate chemical processes that caused the thermal degradation of the sample. A good agreement between results of the methods was found. The thermal degradation of the sample took place in three temperature ranges, namely 200-340, 360-530 and 530-770°C. The degradation of PVC backbone started in the range 200-340°C accompanied by the release of HCl, H₂O, CO₂ and benzene. The non-isothermal kinetics of thermal degradation of the PVC cable insulation in the temperature range 200-340°C was determined from TG results measured at heating rates of 1.5, 5, 10, 15 and 20 K min^-1 in nitrogen and air, respectively. The activation energy values of the thermal degradation process in the range 200-340°C of the PVC cable insulation sample were determined from TG results by ASTM method. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) by U.V. radiation—I. Kinetics and quantum yields

The kinetics of the photodegradation of films of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) has been studied both in the presence and in the absence of oxygen. The value of the quantum yield of hydrogen chloride evolved, φ_HCl = 0.011, indicates that only one in every 100 photons absorbed induces the dehydrochlorination of PVC, with formation of polyenes. The independence of φ_HCl on the irradiation time and on the initial amount of unsaturation in the polymer argues in favour of an alkene-photosensitized degradation process. The low rate of degradation observed when Pyrex-filtered light is used results primarily from both low absorbance of the PVC film in the 300–400 nm region and photobleaching of the polyenes by the hydrogen chloride evolved. The decrease of φ_HCl for extended irradiation times is attributed to the formation of a highly absorbing surface layer consisting of totally degraded PVC. Competitive chain scission and crosslinking processes develop in the PVC film photolyzed either in nitrogen or in oxygen, with a limiting value of 0.5 for the gel fraction.     

Degradation of polymer mixtures. VI. Blends of poly(vinyl chloride) with polystyrene

The degradation of films containing both PS and PVC has been examined by TVA and TG. Stabilization of both polymers, more notably PS, is observed, but the degradation products are the same as when the polymers are degraded alone. Molecular weight measurements indicate a more rapid decrease in the molecular weight of PS when PVC is present. The possibility of grafting or other processes leading to chlorine incorporation in PS has been excluded by the results of experiments using ³⁶Cl-labeled PVC. The mechanisms of possible interactions between the degrading polymers are discussed. Processes involving reaction of chlorine radicals with PS at lower temperatures and reaction of PS radicals with the residue of PVC dehydrochlorination or its decomposition products at higher temperatures appear probable.     

Thermal and mechanical behaviour of flexible poly(vinyl chloride) mixed with some saturated polyesters

Four saturated polyesters poly(hexamethylene adipate), poly(ethylene adipate), poly(hexamethylene terephthalate) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) were prepared. The resulting materials were characterized by IR and ¹H NMR, end group analysis and gel permeation chromatography. The effect of blending these polyesters (5 and 10%) with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in the melt was investigated in terms of changes in the thermal behaviour of PVC by studying the weight loss after 50 min at 180 °C, colour changes of the blend before and after aging for one week at 90 °C, the variation in glass transition temperature and the initial decomposition temperature. The results gave proof for the stabilizing role played by the investigated polyesters against the thermal degradation of PVC. The best results are obtained when PVC is mixed with 5% aliphatic polyesters rather than with aromatic ones. This is well illustrated not only from the increase in the initial decomposition temperature (IDT), but also from the decrease of % weight loss and from the lower extent of discolouration of PVC, which is a demand for the application of the polymer. It was also found that blending PVC with 5% of the four investigated polyesters before and after aging for one week at 90 °C gave better mechanical properties even than that of the unaged PVC blank.     

氯化天然橡胶的等速升温热降解动力学

天然胶乳;氯化天然橡胶的等速升温热降解动力学     

基于纳米ZnO/聚氯乙烯的复合材料光催化性能研究

本文采用纳米氧化锌与聚氯乙烯溶液共混制备了复合材料前驱体，运用TG-DTA联机分析得到了其分解温度及相关热分解数据；经适当温度煅烧后得到复合材料光催化剂，并用TEM、XRD、FTIR、UV-Vis、ESR对复合材料进行分析表征。在室内普通照明用荧光灯作用下，以甲基橙溶液为催化对象，对复合材料的光催化性能进行了检测，并在相同条件下，与纳米氧化锌、纳米氧化钛及聚氯乙烯直接煅烧产物的光催化性能进行了比对分析；同时研究了pH值对复合材料光催化性能的影响。研究结果表明，复合材料对甲基橙催化降解8 min后，甲基橙溶     

Mathematical models of the initial stage of the thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride). I. The thermal degradation of the low molecular weight models of macromolecules of poly(vinyl chloride) having no abnormal fragments

Some mathematical models of the initial stage of the thermal degradation of the low molecular weight models for the normal units of PVC have been considered. The equations have been deduced. If the values of the average length of kinetic chain of dehydrochlorination of the polymer and the model compound are equal to each other, these equations may be used for the thermal degradation of idealized PVC.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of water droplets on polymer surfaces

Molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the wetting of polymer surfaces with water. Contact angles of water droplets on crystalline and two amorphous polyethylene (PE) and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) surfaces were extracted from atomistic simulations. Crystalline surfaces were produced by duplicating the unit cell of an experimental crystal structure, and amorphous surfaces by pressing the bulk polymer step by step at elevated temperature between two repulsive grid surfaces to a target density. Different-sized water droplets on the crystalline PE surface revealed a slightly positive line tension on the order of 10(-12)-10(-11) N, whereas droplets on crystalline PVC did not yield a definite line tension. Microscopic contact angles produced by the simple point charge (SPC) water model were mostly a few degrees smaller than those produced by the extended SPC model, which, as the model with lowest bulk energy, presents an upper boundary for contact angles. The macroscopic contact angle for the SPC model was 94 degrees on crystalline PVC and 113 degrees on crystalline PE. Amorphicity of the surface increased the water contact angle on PE but decreased it on PVC, for both water models. If the simulated contact angles on crystalline and amorphous surfaces are combined in proportion to the crystallinity of the polymer in question, simulated values in relatively good agreement with measured values are obtained.     

Degradation of substrate and/or product: mathematical modeling of biosensor action

Mathematical model for evaluation of the multilayer heterogeneous biocatalytic system has been elaborated. The model consists of nonlinear system of partial differential equations with initial values and boundary conditions. An algorithm for computing the numerical solution of the mathematical model has been applied. Two cases: when product diffuses out of the biosensor and when the outer membrane is impermeable for product (product is trapped inside the biosensor) have been dealt with by adjusting boundary conditions in the mathematical model. Profiles of the impact of the substrate and product degradation rates on the biosensor response have been constructed in both cases. Value of the degradation impact has been analyzed as a function of the outer membrane thickness. The initial substrate concentration also affects influence of the degradation rates on the biosensor response. Analytical formulae, defining approximate values of relationships between the degradation rates and the outer membrane thickness or the initial substrate concentration, have been obtained. These formulae can be employed for monitoring of the biosensor response.