Mechanistic Studies of Thermal Behavior of Certain Polymeric Systems with Additives

Abstract

The present work deals with the pyrolytical studies of nine systems, i.e., two polymers [poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinyl acetate)] and one copolymer [(poly(S-co-MMA)] blended with three inorganic additives, namely, aluminum tribromide, phosphorus tribromide and tin tetrachloride. Each polymeric/copolymeric substance is cast in the form of film (from common solvent) with each additive to get binary system such as PMMA-AlBr3, P(S-co- MMA)-AlBr3, PVAc-AlBr3, etc. The interest is based on the retardance of flammability, thermal stability, alteration in degradation mechanism, etc. of organic materials in the presence of inorganic species. The first chapter details the historical use of polymers, their wear and tear under the influence of different conditions, i.e., UV, -radiations, oxygen, biological agents, heat, etc. Major emphasis is laid on the effects of heat and the reactions involved during the deterioration. The role of additives in imparting stability or otherwise is briefly described. Literature review is given in second chapter which includes the summary of the work published by various scientists on the subject of thermal degradation of polymers/copolymers alone as well as in the presence of additives over a long span of time. The polymers/copolymer selected for current investigations get major share of the review. In the third chapter, aims and objectives of the present research are included. Furthermore, the incentives and motivation for the work conducted are presented along with the plans and strategies devised. Experimental portion, chapter 4, consists of purification procedures for solvents, the preparatory methods for polymers, copolymers and additives, sample preparation techniques for flammability test, set-up designed for the pyrolysis of the systems explored and the instrumental techniques employed for the characterizations. All results gleaned from instrumentation, viz., TG-DTG-DTA, IR, GC-MS, flammability, about the binary systems are listed in chapter 5. Tabulated findings are available including activation energies and order of reactions. Chapter 6 discusses the mutual thermal behavior of PMMA and AlBr3, PBr3, SnCl4 in each other‟s presence. The three systems start degrading at lower temperatures when compared with T0 (temperature corresponding to first weight-loss) of PMMA. In the case of PMMA-AlBr3, T0 is lower than the T0 of the additive. Despite early destabilizations, stabilization zones (in terms of temperature) and other factors promoting stability are identified. A number of new products have evolved in all cases which provide reasons to believe that chemical interaction has taken place and the path of polymer degradation appears modified. PMMA-PBr3 blend reveals that phosphorus is incorporated in the backbone of PMMA during the course of degradation. Phosphorus also interacts with carbonyl oxygens of PMMA pendent groups in a similar fashion as is observed for Al (from AlBr3) and Sn (from SnCl4), however, it cannot be termed as „co-ordination‟ or „complexation‟ as observed for Sn in PMMA-SnCl4 system. Not only the positively charged parts of the additives, i.e., Al, P and Sn interact with the pendent groups and backbone of the polymer but the negatively charged parts (Br and Cl) also form bonds after the partial or complete removal of pendent groups. In other instances, they also replace the methyls attached to backbone carbons. The flammability parameter indicates the effectiveness of all the additives which markedly lower the burning rate of PMMA. Degradation mechanisms are proposed on the basis of gathered data and products identified. Monomer is not the major product in the studies undertaken presently. The same chapter, (6), explains the thermal behavior of P(S-co-MMA) in the presence of additives already named in the last paragraph. The blends [P(S-co-MMA)-AlBr3, P(S-co- MMA)-PBr3 and P(S-co-MMA)-SnCl4] exhibit a low-temperature degradation which is thought to be linked to the decomposition of non-copolymeric part of the blends. This destabilization is followed by stabilization of either component of the systems (general observation). The release of free radicals by the disintegration of „free‟ or „attached‟ additives initiates as well as inhibits depolymerization. The „co-ordination‟ or „complex‟ type structures become less appreciable in the present case when this feature is compared with the PMMA blends revealing the lower number of pendent (-COOCH3) groups available in copolymer. New products are noticed in all blends which furnish the basis for chemical influence of the constituents on each other‟s pyrolysis. Phosphorus appears attached to the degrading copolymer for P(S-co-MMA)-PBr3. Benzene ring, substituted with halogens, evidence the types of reactions that occur as the degradation processes progress. The pyrolysis of P(S-co-MMA)-SnCl4 unveils the formation of bisubstituted benzene which means chlorine is more reactive than bromine (no such instances are observed with P(S-co- MMA)-AlBr3 and P(S-co-MMA)-PBr3). These reactions are believed to proceed free radically. The test of flammability proves that all the additives are equally effective in case of copolymer‟s burning.