Abstract
With thermogravimetric analysis, IR and ESR measurements it could be shown that the low stability of high molecular poly(ethylene oxide) is due to a statistical degradation following a radical mechanism which leads to the formation of aldehyde groups at the end positions of the fragments. Mass spectroscopical investigations of degraded (aged) as well as of freshly prepared poly(ethylene oxide) revealed a consistent and easily comprehensible picture. Always 3 series of peaks could be found and the difference between two successive peaks amounts to 44 mass units in each series, corresponding to the oxyethylene unit. The mass spectra of degraded poly(ethylene oxide) were found to be always more rich in fragmentations than those of non degraded ones. The mechanism of poly(ethylene oxide) degradation caused by the action of electrons could be explained with the help of the obtained mass spectra. The degradation of high molecular poly(ethylene oxide), which even takes place at room temperature in the dark and in the absence of air, could be restricted considerably by adding a suitable stabilizer to the polymerization mixture.