Simple Method to Analyze Degradation of Nonaqueos Polymers

Abstract

Polymers are one of the most important materials used in our daily life. Polymers are mainly synthesized from monomers through a process called polymerization, and most synthesized polymers change their state over time. For example, some polymers are continuously decomposed after the polymerization is finished. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and viscometry are commonly used for analyzing the polymers. Each of these methods has their own advantages and disadvantages. However, in common, these methods have disadvantages in that analysis takes a long time and requires a large number of samples. In this study, we have developed an electrochemical method based on cyclic voltammetry to measure the degradation of polymers. To validate our work, we measured the CV under the conditions of polymers degradation. As a result, it was possible to measure different current values in samples in which large amounts of polymers was decomposed. We believe that the method presented here is a sensitively measure the degree of decomposition of polymers, and this method will be of great help in analyzing and maintaining the properties of polymers.