Studies on thermal degradation of 1-4 and 1-2 polybutadienes in inert atmosphere

The degradation of 1,2 and 1,4 polybutadienes by heating in inert atmosphere was characterized by FTIR, NMR and TGA/TCT/GC/MS for the volatile organic compounds. Two distinct mass change stages in the thermogravimetric analysis indicated different temperature ranges of degradation. Below 300 °C, the predominant reactions depend on the chemical structure of PBs. Thus, M1 and M2 formation by heating 1,4-PB at 260 °C allows us to prove crosslinking reaction. On the other hand, heating 1,2-PB at 260 °C leads to decahydronaphthalene and methyl formation by cycloaddition and rearrangement. At about 300 °C, only radical scission occurs for 1,2-PB whereas Diels Alder and proton transfer mechanisms are described for 1,4-PB. The products of reaction are respectively conjugated diene, cyclic and linear unsaturated compounds sometimes with methyl groups. Above 400 °C, the main process is aromatisation for both PBs.