Thermal aging study of carboxyl‐terminated polybutadiene and poly(butadiene‐acrylonitrile)‐reactive liquid polymers

Abstract

AbstractA thermal aging study of carboxyl‐terminated polybutadiene (CTB) and poly(butadiene‐acrylonitrile) (CTBN) reactive liquid polymers has been conducted at 50°, 75°, 100°, and 125°C. All CTB and CTBNs are stable at 50°C aging. On aging at higher temperatures prior to use, viscosities of CTB and CTBNs increase, and terminal carboxylic acid functional groups start disappearing. Rate of viscosity increase and rate of carboxylic acid functional group disappearance increase with higher aging temperature and also with higher cyano group concentration in the polymers. The major cause of rapid viscosity increase and disappearance of carboxylic acid functional groups seems to be crosslinking between terminal carboxylic acid groups and cyano groups, which form imide structures. Crosslinking among the unsaturation in polybutadiene segments may contribute to the slow, steady viscosity increase. No acid‐anhydride formation and decarboxylation reaction, which may also result in viscosity increase and disappearance of carboxylic acid functional groups, are observed during the thermal aging at elevated temperatures.