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The chemical dehydrochlorination of poly(vinyl chloride), 1. Studies on tetrahydrofuran solutions

1985; Wiley; Volume: 186; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/macp.1985.021860403

0025-116X

H.J. Bowley, D.L. Gerrard, W. F. Maddams, M. Paton,

Advanced Polymer Synthesis and Characterization

Abstract The chemical dehydrochlorination of poly(vinyl chloride) was studied in solution in tetrahydrofuran. Two materials, a mass polymer of 55% syndiotacticity and a low temperature polymer of 63% syndiotacticity, were dehydrochlorinated with potassium hydroxide and with potassium tert ‐butoxide. The dehydrochlorination products were characterised by their chlorine contents and by UV/visible, IR and Raman spectroscopy, as a function of reaction time. The course of the reaction was found to be substantially independent of tacticity and the dehydrochlorinating reagent. Initially, the reaction follows a similar path to that occurring during photo‐ and thermal degradation, but as the dehydrochlorination continues, longer conjugated polyenes are formed than by these two latter processes. Sequences of 60 double bonds occur at the dehydrochlorination levels of about 55% that are attained after reaction times of 24 h. These sequences are sterically protected from cross‐linking reactions by the presence of longish sequences of unreacted CHClCH 2  units.