Head-to-head polymers 27: Thermal degradation of head-to-head polyisobutylene

✍ Scribed by M. Malanga; F. Xi; O. Vogl

• Publisher: Society for Plastic Engineers
• Year: 1983
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 256 KB
• Volume: 23
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0032-3888
• DOI: 10.1002/pen.760230412

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Head‐to‐head polyisobutylene degrades at a maximum rate at 320°C, a temperature about 65°C lower than head‐to‐tail polyisobutylene. Under our conditions, head‐to‐tail (the regular polyisobutylene) degrades (as do many other disubstituted vinyl monomers) to a high yield of the monomer isobutylene. Surprisingly, head‐to‐head polyisobutylene also degraded, primarily to isobutylene. Liquid, low‐molecular compounds, probably dimers, were also obtained from head‐to‐tail and head‐to‐head polyisobutylene. A mechanism of this degradation is proposed.