The chemical effects of photo-oxidation on butadiene rubber

The photo-oxidation of butadiene rubber (BR) was studied in detail using films of a commercially available material, containing 33% cis-1,4-, 56% trans-1,4- and 12% 1,2-vinylic units. The spectral data of the products showed that during photo-oxidation the following functional organic groups are formed: hydroperoxides, alcohols, ketones, carboxylic acids and esters. ¹³C-NMR spectroscopic evidence for the formation of epoxides is presented. By comparison with spectra of model compounds, signals were assigned to ester and carboxylic acids in the allylic position of the oxidized polymer. The presence of ketones and carboxylic acids was also proved by chemical methods. It could be demonstrated that the formation of ketones, carboxylic acids and esters occurs from the photolysis of the OO bond of the hydroperoxides. Kinetic measurements with films containing benzophenone showed a strong increase in the quantum yield for the formation of products in comparison with the pure polymer sample. The opposite effect is observed with films containing the commercially used anti-oxidant, 2,6-di-t-butyl-p-hydroxytoluene. Also, the quantum yield for formation of the oxidation products decreases with increase in the light intensity. This result shows that cross-linking plays an important role in the photo-degradation of BR.