Hydrolytic degradation and diffusion studies on a polyphosphate ester

Abstract

AbstractA polyphosphate ester was synthesized by interfacial polycondensation of bisphenol‐A and phenylphosphorodichloridate. Accelerated hydrolytic degradation studies were conducted under alkaline conditions. The effect of concentration of alkali and temperature were monitored. The rate of degradation reached a maximum value at 6 molar sodium hydroxide solution and then reduced. The activation energy for hydrolytic degradation was found to be 45 kcal/mol. Diffusion of alkali into the polymer pellet was studied at various concentrations of alkali and at various temperatures. The rate of diffusion also attained a maximum at 6M NaOH and the activation energy for diffusion process was found to be 12 kcal/mol. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 701–708, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10008