Degradation of copolymers of acrylonitrile and styrene in alkaline dimethyl sulphoxide solution

Investigations on the alkaline degradation of copolymers of acrylonitrile and styrene dissolved in dimethyl sulphoxide were carried out by means of viscometry, titrimetry and GPC measurements. The degradation reaction takes place with alkali concentrations higher than 1·3–1·4 × 10^?4 moles of KOH per gram of copolymer. Four to five new macromolecules arise from each starting macromolecule. A consumption of 1·3–1·5 moles of KOH was calculated for each new macromolecule formed.