Abstract
The thermal degradation of poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTHF) shows many features in common with its homologues poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(trimethylene oxide), the main degradation processes being accounted for by homolysis of the C–O backbone bonds followed by further reactions of the radicals thus formed. The thermal stability of PTHF and its complexes with LiBr and LiI are in the order PTHF>PTHF/LiBr>>PTHF/LiI. The marked instability of the LiI complex is due in part to participation of I° radicals in promoting decomposition reactions. Pure PTHF is much less stable in air than in N 2 while the stabilities of the complexes in air are similar to their stabilities under N 2, so that the order of stability to thermal oxidation is PTHF<PTHF/LiI<PTHF/LiBr. The stabilising influence of the salts against oxidation of PTHF is explained on the basis of the mechanisms proposed previously for other polyethers.
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