Vacuum and oxidative pyrolysis of poly-p-xylylene. II. Chromatographic analysis and kinetics of reaction products

Reaction products of vacuum and oxidative degradation of poly-p-xylylene have been quantitatively determined by chromatographic analysis as function of time, temperature and oxygen pressure. Respective Arrhenius parameters were also ascertained for some of the reaction products and for the sums of all products. The energies of activation for the sums agree quite satisfactorily with the energies of activation obtained previously by uninterrupted experiments in quartz-spoon reaction vessels. The results found here can be described in terms of mechanisms previously postulated on the basis of the total loss in weight (or volatile production) data. Scission of “weak” links (due to abnormal structures) takes place followed by formation of various products. The whole process is governed by the initial chain scission reaction; however, the energies of activation for each of the products do not need to be identical with that of the chain scission reaction. Each product is formed by a reaction which has its own characteristic number average kinetic chain lengths; the latter have their specific energy of activation values. Oxidative degradation produces the same organic compounds as vacuum degradation and in addition CO, CO₂, and H₂O. Oxidized intermediate compounds are apparently fairly rapidly decarboxylated and decarbonylated. Oxidative chain scission is appreciably faster than that in vacuum. Almost simultaneous “weak” link and “normal” chain scission are taking place initiating the formation of a number of products.     

生物质组分及温度对闪速热解挥发分的影响

生物质是一种可再生、污染小的自然资源，它可以直接燃烧产生热能，也可以转化为气体、液体燃料或化工原料。生物质热转化技术近年来受到国内外学者的广泛重视。而热转化过程中，热解是第一步，与生物质组分、热解温度、滞留时间等因素有关。热重仪（TGA）是一种研究热解机理常用的方法，它适用于慢速程序升温的热解研究。研究发现，热解条件及生物质种类对反应表观活化能与表观频率因子等动力学参数有很大影响。层流炉闪速加热设备，已经用于煤的热解研究。本文利用自己设计的以热等离子体为热源的层流炉系统，对椰子壳、棉花秆和稻壳粉末进行了闪速热解实验研究及模型理论分析，探讨了生物质化学组分、热解温度和滞留时间对挥发分的影响，为生物质闪速热解提供了一定的基础数据。     

The thermo-oxidative degradation of polyolefines—Part 10. Correlation between the formation of carboxyl groups and scission in the oxidation of polyethylene in the melt phase

Films of low density polyethylene have been degraded under an oxygen atmosphere at temperatures above the semicrystalline melting point. Time, conversion and temperature dependence of carboxyl group formation and chain scission have been studied. After induction periods we found linear dependences both in function of time and conversion. One third of absorbed oxygen forms carboxyl groups and the absorption of 3·57 mmol oxygen per monomer unit is needed for one chain scission. Maximum rates of carboxyl formation and chain scission have Arrhenius temperature dependence with 33·5 kcal/mole activation energy. The number of carboxyl groups and chain scissions are always practically the same; we assume that the isomerisation of secondary alkyl peroxy radicals simultaneously causes chain scission and carboxyl formation.     

A New,General Synthetic Method for the Preparation of Linear Poly-p-xylylenes

A new, general synthetic route to poly-p-xylylene and substituted poly-p-xylylenes is described. The key intermediate in the new process is di-p-xylylene [(2,2)p-cyclophane]. It has been found that di-p-xylylene is quantitatively cleaved by vacuum vapor-phase pyrolysis at 600°C. to two molecules of p-xylylene. p-Xylylene spontaneously polymerizes on condensation to form high molecular weight, linear poly-p-xylylene. The conversion of di-p-xylylene to poly-p-xylylene is quantitative. The process is adaptable to the preparation of a wide variety of substituted poly-p-xylylenes by pyrolysis of ring-substituted di-p-xylylenes and polymerization of the resultant substituted p-xylylenes. Many of these polymers are not attainable by any other route. All are linear and free of crosslinking. Evidence supporting the proposed mechanism of pyrolytic cleavage of every molecule of di-p-xylylene to two molecules of p-xylylene is presented. Tough, transparent polymeric films are obtained from the process when the polymerization of the p-xylylenes is conducted on glass or metal surfaces. Outstanding combinations of physical, electrical, and chemical properties are displayed by poly-p-xylylene, polychloro-p-xylylene, and other substituted polymers. A comparison of the relative merits of the original Szwarc route and the new di-p-xylylene route to poly-p-xylylenes is presented.     

Theoretical depolymerization kinetics. IV. Effect of a volatile fraction on the degradation of an initial “most probable” polymer

The effect of volatilization of molecules larger than monomer has been introduced into the solution of the Simha, Wall, and Blatz kinetic equations for the degradation of a high polymer with an initial “most probable” distribution. Equations describing the rate of sample weight and average molecular weight change result. They differ from the previous “most probable” equations primarily in the presence of an additive term representing the random splitting near the chain ends due to bond scission or transfer attack. Equations are also obtained for the rate of formation of each volatile species and hence the product distribution. The effect of volatilization of larger fragments is discussed in detail for the special case of random scission initiation. The product distribution is discussed for two special cases.     

Initial Pyrolysis Reactions in Unmodified and Flame-Retardant Cotton

Abstract

Thermogravimetric data were used to make Arrhenius plots for the vacuum pyrolyses of unmodified cotton and of cotton finished with various add-ons of THPOH-NH3 and THPS-urea-Na₂HPO₄ flame retardants. These plots show that all pyrolyses occurred in consecutive stages: The first and second initial stages, associated with the less ordered regions of the cotton fibers, and the main cellulose pyrolysis reaction, associated with cellulose crystallites. Cotton decrystallized by ball milling showed only the two initial pyrolysis stages. The second stage followed first-order kinetics. The first pyrolysis stage in unmodified cotton was characterized by a moderately low activation energy and by a large negative entropy of activation; the second stage showed a larger activation energy and a less negative entropy of activation. Mechanisms involving cellulose chain scission and chain unzipping are proposed for the first and second stages, respectively. Add-on of the two flame retardants had contrasting effects on the two initial pyrolysis stages. These effects are explained in terms of the way in which the flame retardants are deposited in the less ordered regions of cotton fibers.     

Chain scission of butyl rubber by nitrogen dioxide. II. Photo-oxidation as function of nitrogen dioxide,oxygen pressure,and temperature

Studies of chain scission of butyl rubber (1.75% by weight of isoprene) have been extended. Experiments showing chain scission as function of various oxygen and nitrogen pressures, temperatures, and near-ultraviolet light intensity are presented. The experimental data agree with the mechanisms assumed in previous work or with elaborations of such mechanisms to include additional factors (ultraviolet radiation etc.). NO₂ retards chain scission in presence of near-ultraviolet light. Photo-oxidation in presence of relatively high and low nitrogen dioxide pressures, respectively, show experimental curves of opposite curvature; these data have also been evaluated in terms of méchanism. Arrhenius equations are presented for experiments related to the different reaction mechanisms.     

Dehydrochlorination reactions in polymers. Part II. Chlorinated polystyrene

The dehydrochlorination of chlorinated polystyrene was studied in the temperature range 120–220°C., when HCl was the sole volatile product. The dehydrochlorination was accompanied by the slow development of color and chain scission. The elimination rate fell too rapidly with reaction extent to be accounted for by reduction of reagent. Solution studies in o-dichlorobenzene indicated that the reaction was initially first-order in polymer concentration but was retarded by the polyene reaction products. The overall elimination was interpreted as a radical process in which the product was an active retarder. These observations are also valid for the elimination of HBr from brominated polystyrene.     

Synthesis of 1,1,9,9-tetrafluoro[2.2]paracyclophane and its polymerization by vapor deposition method

1,1,9,9-Tetrafluoro[2.2]paracyclophane ( 1 ) was prepared successfully as white crystals in 72% yield via two-step reactions from 1,9-diketo[2.2]-paracyclophane. The polymerization of 1 by the vapor deposition method was carried out at pyrolysis temperature range of 400 to 800°C and deposition temperature range of ?20 to 20°C, and a tough, transparent poly(α,α-difluoro-p-xylylene) film was obtained in 72% yield at the pyrolysis temperature of 750°C and the deposition temperature of ?20°C. It was found that the pyrolysis of 1 gave a reactive α,α-difluoro-p-xylylene, which polymerized on the head-to-tail addition to give poly(α,α-difluoro-p-xylylene). Some properties such as solubility, thermal stability, glass transition temperature, and density for poly(α,α-difluoro-p-xylylene) were studied. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Thermal oxidation of polyacetylene

The thermal oxidation of undoped trans-polyacetylene powder in dry air has been studied and the principal features of the mechanism have been developed. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis reveal an exothermic process that first leads to a weight increase, followed by precipitous weight loss above 240°C due to formation of volatile oxidation products. Isothermal weight gain studies between 25 and 142°C show first-order kinetics below 90°C with a rate constant of 3.10^?7 s^?1 at 25°C and an apparent activation energy of 16 kcal/mol. A weight gain of more than 40% has been observed at 25°C after 2000 h of exposure to air. A change in first-order kinetics occurs at temperatures above 90°C. Identification of solid oxidation products with photoacoustic infrared spectroscopy reveals that oxygen intercalates into the polymer structure in large concentrations, similar to other electron acceptors. However, oxidative attack on the polymer backbone occurs simultaneously. At elevated temperatures or for long-term oxygen exposure, the concentration of dopant oxygen decreases, probably by intramolecular regrouping of hydrogen atoms, resulting in the formation of hydroxyl groups and enhanced polymer degradation. This mechanism is consistent with the finding of others that the conductivity of polyacetylene upon oxygen exposure increases initially before decreasing significantly with continued exposure, especially at elevated temperatures.     

The kinetics and mechanism of the pyrolysis elimination of methyl 4-bromocrotonate

The pyrolysis of methyl 4-bromocrotonate in the temperature range 300–340°C and pressure range 74–170 torr has been shown to be homogeneous, unimolecular, and to follow a first-order rate law. The reaction was carried out in a static system, seasoned with allyl bromide, and in the presence of the radical chain exhibitor toluene. The rate coefficients are represented by the Arrhenius expression: log k₁(s^?1) = (13.30 ± 0.66) ? (185.2 ± 7.5) kJ mol^?1 (2.303RT)^?1. The carbomethoxy group appears to provide anchimeric assistance in the process of dehydrobromination and lactone products formation. The partial rates for the parallel reaction have been estimated, reported, and discussed. The pyrolysis elimination is explained in terms of an intimate ion pair-type of mechanism.     

Thermal oxidative stability of poly-p-xylylenes

The air oxidation of poly-p-xylylene films was studied at temperatures between 125 and 200°C. The oxidation kinetics were obtained from neutron activation (NA) oxygen analyses and infrared (IR) Spectroscopy. A correlation between the NA oxygen analyses and mechanical properties indicated that the amount of oxygen incorporated into these polymers before a significant degradation mechanical properties is about 1000 ppm for poly(dichloro-p-xylylene) and 5000 ppm for poly(monochloro-p-xylylene) or poly-p-xylylene. The activation energy for the oxidation of these polymers was about 30 kcal/mole. Long-term-use (100,000 hr) temperatures were also estimated for each of the poly-p-xylylenes studied. The 100,000-hr maximum continuous-use temperature is 112°C for poly(dichloro-p-xylylene), 72°C for poly(monochloro-p-xylylene), and 57°C for poly-p-xylylene.     

Pyrolysis-gas-liquid-chromatography utilised for a kinetic study of the mechanisms of initiation and termination in the thermal degradation of polystyrene

Pyrolysis-gas-liquid-chromatography (“thermocouple feedback” technique) has been used to study the thermal degradation kinetics of ionically-initiated and free-radical-initiated samples of polystyrene. Although mass-spectrometric measurements confirm that the pyrolysis products from large samples (1 mg) contain oligomers up to at least hexamer in addition to monomer, only monomer is detected when small thin samples (0.1 μg, 10²–10⁵ Å) are used. This effect is not due to a sensitivity problem in detecting oligomers, nor to the incapacity of such compounds of limited volatility to elute from the GLC apparatus. In studying the kinetics of monomer evolution from thin films, initial work was concerned with the effect of film thickness and the limits of first-order behaviour. Then the specific rate of monomer evolution (k_obs) was measured as a function of molecular weight for both types of sample at 723 K and 753 K; the results indicate that the pyrolysis mechanism involves both initiation at the chain-ends and initiation by random scission. Kinetic schemes involving mixed initiation have been proposed, and on this basis the results have been analysed to yield activation energies for scission and end-initiation for both types of sample. Comparison of the activation energies obtained with the quoted value for scission of a CC bond has shown that the depolymerization chain termination process cannot be second order and must be first order in the concentration of long chain radicals. The experimental results also indicate that the ionically-initiated polystyrenes are more stable than free-radical-initiated samples of comparable molecular weight. Possible initiation sites have been discussed with reference to the samples examined and to previous published studies. Several mechanisms leading to first order termination have been proposed; it is suggested that the most probable process involves intramolecular transfer with subsequent scission to give an oligomer radical which is small enough to diffuse readily from the system without further reaction.     

Structure and properties of p-phenylenevinylene-p-xylylene copolymers prepared by vapor-deposition polymerization

Films based on the p-phenylenevinylene-p-xylylene precursor are prepared via vapor-deposition polymerization during the pyrolysis of ??, ????-dichloro-p-xylene on a copper grid in vacuum at substrate temperatures ?196, 25, and 50°C. Subsequent annealing of the precursor at 250°C yields the final material: the copolymer of p-phenylenevinylene and p-xylylene. The structure, surface morphology, and optical properties of the copolymer are studied at different substrate temperatures and copper amounts in the pyrolysis zone. It is found that p-phenylenevinylene units mostly occur in trans configurations. The thermal treatment of the precursor is accompanied by an increase in the mean-square surface roughness and a decrease in roughness coefficient ?? from 0.84 ± 0.05 to 0.79 ± 0.05. As the content of copper in the pyrolysis zone increases, the concentration of p-xylylene fragments in the copolymer tends to increase; the band gap increases from ?2.5 to 3.1 eV. Depending on synthesis conditions, the copolymer is characterized by a shift of the fluorescence spectrum maximum that achieves 150 nm in the visible spectral region.     

壳聚糖辐射效应的研究（Ⅰ）──辐照剂量与分子量的关系及辐射裂解的G（S）值

通过粘度的测量，考察了壳聚糖在不同条件下经不同剂量γ射线辐照所引起的分子量的变化，并分别计算了真空和空气中壳聚糖辐射裂解的Ｇ（Ｓ）值。     

Thermal degradation of polystyrene—4. Decomposition of oxygen-containing polymers

The thermal decomposition of two polystyrene samples prepared by radical polymerisation in the presence of oxygen was studied in the temperature range 280–300°C where volatile formation is negligible. The energy of activation for chain scission of the oxygen-containing polymers was lower than that of a reference sample prepared under vacuum. All three polymers contained the same proportion of weak bonds and it was therefore concluded that these structures are not copolymerised peroxide groups.     

The kinetics and mechanisms of the gas-phase pyrolysis of ethyl 4-bromobutyrate. The ion-pair mechanism revisited

The gas-phase pyrolysis of ethyl 4-bromobutyrate has been investigated in a static system over the temperature range of 354.6–374.7°C and the pressure range of 51–126 torr. The elimination reaction in seasoned vessels and in the presence of at least twofold of a chain radical inhibitor is homogeneous, unimolecular, and obeys a first-order rate law. The rate coefficients are given by the Arrhenius equation log k₁(s^?1) = (13.31 ± 0.82) – (205.1 ± 8.6)kJ/mol/2.303RT. The partial rates for the parallel eliminations to normal dehydrobromination, lactone formation, and bromobutyric acid product have been estimated and reported. The carboethoxy substituent of the bromoester has been found to assist anchimerically the elimination process, where dihydrobromination and lactone formation arise from an intimate ion-pair mechanism.     

Gel permeation chromatography studies of chain scission and cross-linking during photo-oxidation of atactic polystyrene below and at tg

Photo-oxidative degradation of polystyrene in the form of film 20 μm thick was carried out in air using u.v. light of 254 nm at room temperature and at temperatures up to T_g. GPC was used to study changes of molecular weight distribution during the process. The GPC results were analysed using equations for an initially most probable distribution and non-uniform energy dissipation; the quantum yield values of chain scission and cross-linking of polystyrene during degradation were calculated. Initially, degradation progressed at high rate, connected with consumption of oxygen dissolved in the film. The slower subsequent degradation was connected with consumption of oxygen supplied during the reaction. An appreciable increase in the quantum yields for chain scission and cross-linking was observed just below and at T_g for the initial stage of photo-oxidative degradation. This increase of the quantum yield of photodegradation was caused by increased mobility of oxygen molecules in the film, connected with movement of polymer chain elements.     

Photochemistry of ring-substituted polystyrenes. II. Photolyses of poly(p-fluoro-, p-chloro-, and p-bromostyrene)s

The photodegradation of thin films of p-fluoro (PPFS), p-chloro (PPCS), and p-bromo (PPBS) styrenes brought about by exposure to 254-nm radiation under high vacuum was studied. Mass spectroscopic measurements indicated that hydrogen and hydrogen halides were the only gaseous products because yields of H₂ and HF from poly(p-fluorostyrene) were much smaller than the corresponding yields of chloro- and bromo-substituted polymers. UV and visible spectra of degraded films indicated the presence of unsaturated species, for the initial rates of formation were comparable in PPFS and PS but considerably greater in PPCS and PPBS. Solubility and molecular weight data indicated simultaneous crosslinking and chain scission; both PPCS and PPBS showed an inordinately high susceptibility to crosslinking. These observations can be rationalized in terms of the energetics of abstraction reactions by H and halogen atoms and in terms of scission of the Ph–Br and Ph–Cl bonds which lead to the participation of radicals in the para position in crosslinking. Some qualitative correspondence between the Hammett parameters of the p-substituents and rates of H₂ formation in the substituted polymers was observed. Quantum yields of gaseous product formation and probabilities of crosslinking and chain scission were also determined for the three polymers. Mechanisms of the various reactions are discussed.     

New Structure Formation on γ-irradiation of Poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene)

The radiation chemistry of PCTFE at different temperatures has been studied. The polymer was irradiated under vacuum to absorbed doses of up to 1500 kGy. Three irradiation temperatures were chosen. These included ambient temperature, a temperature well above the T_g and a temperature above the crystalline melting temperature. These were 298, 423 and 493 K, respectively. The formation of new structures was identified by solid-state FTIR and ¹⁹F NMR. No branching was observed below the melting temperature, but branches were observed above the melting temperature. G-values for chain-end formation were 1.5 and 2.4 at room temperature and 423 K, respectively and the G-value for the formation of double bonds was found to be <0.1. For the irradiations at 493 K, the G-values for the formation of chain ends, double bonds and branching points were 3.6, 0.2 and 0.5, respectively. The presence of long-chain branches within the polymer structure could not be proven for radiolysis at 493 K, but scission predominates and network formation does not occur upon irradiation. DSC studies of the polymers irradiated at ambient temperature were consistent with chain scission leading to an increase in the percentage crystallinity, as observed for other fluoropolymers.