Abstract
AbstractIn the oxidation of atactic polystyrene initiated by azobisisobutyronitrile, the kinetic chain length was obtained as 1.5. In the presence of cobalt salt and bromide ion, the rate of oxidation is first order with respect to the concentration of polymer and second order with respect to the concentration of cobalt. In addition, this rate is dependent on the molar ratio of NaBr to cobalt, independent of the partial pressure of oxygen and the molecular weight of polystyrene. The overall energy of activation is 22.5 kcal/mole. The molecular weight decreased from 152000 to 10 800 under the present conditions of oxidation. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are the only significant volatile products. The primary product of oxidation is hydroperoxide. Benzaldehyde, acetophenone, and phenol were found as final products. The acetophenone‐type structure and methyl endgroups were observed. The formation of phenol presented a large selfinhibiting effect in the oxidation of polystyrene. The oxidation of isotactic polystyrene gave a maximum rate of oxidation twofold higher than that of atactic polystyrene and a value of 17.0 kcal/mole for the overall energy of activation.
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