Thermal decomposition of polystyrene

Abstract

Kinetic studies on the decomposition of polystyrene samples with molecular weights ranging from 900 to 1.8 × 10 6 have been carried out making use of the differential thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetric techniques. Changes in molecular weight distributions with decomposition, at different temperatures or times, have been studied by gel permeation chromatography. This technique was likewise used to carry out component splitting of the undecomposed polymer samples. These components have been shown to break down statistically primarily by a process of random scissions yielding lower molecular weight products. The major portion of the observed weight loss, by the volatilization of small chain segments, is attributed to a rapid and complete depolymerization of chains. These interpretations are based on changes in polydispersity occurring during the decompositions. Similar components, decomposing in a different manner but under identical operating conditions, are suspected of being different stereoregular forms of the polymer. The order of reaction as computed from the method of Freeman and Carroll has been found to be zero for random scissions and one for the process of depolymerization. The activation energy computed by the method of Coats and Redfern was found to increase with molecular weight reaching a maximum value in the 10 5 molecular weight range.