Gpc study of thermo-oxidative degradation of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)

The method of gel permeation chromatography was used to study the structural changes of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) in the course of thermooxidative degradation. During the degradation two principal processes occur: random scission and crosslinking. The latter process leads to the formation of insoluble fractions. The reaction rates and activation energies of both processes have been determined. The mechanism of degradation as well as the influence of some additives is discussed on the basis of experimental data.