• Eisentraut, Paul
• Fuchs, Sabine
• Deglmann, Peter
• Braun, Ulrike

Abstract

<jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title><jats:p>The thermal decomposition behaviour of polystyrene (PS) containing sulphur and phosphorus additives was investigated, using thermogravimetry coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA‐FTIR). It was found that the additives influence the decomposition process of the polymer in the condensed phase, resulting in a decrease in styrene monomer formation and an increase in styrene oligmer derivatives. Via reference measurements with binary mixtures it was found that the presence of sulphur additives influences the radicalic decomposition process of PS. In combination with quantum chemical calculations it was concluded that this is due to the formation of radicals that abstract hydrogen from the polymer matrix at lower temperatures, disfavouring the radicalic decomposition pathway leading to styrene. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. <jats:bold>2015</jats:bold>, <jats:italic>132</jats:italic>, 41665.</jats:p>

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• polymer
• phase
• Hydrogen
• thermogravimetry
• Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
• thermal decomposition
• Phosphorus
• Sulphur