Direct pyrolysis in the mass spectrometer of aromatic polysulfonates and polythiosulfonates

The thermal degradation mechanism of three aromatic polysulfonates and polythiosulfonates was investigated by direct pyrolysis in the ion source of a mass spectrometer. Thermal degradation reactions were followed directly by this method by detecting the thermal and electron impact induced fragments. The results obtained have provided evidence that sulfur dioxide extrusion from the polymer backbone takes place in these polymers above 300°C. The synthesis and molecular characterization of the polymers studied are reported in the text.