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Solid state hydrolysis of bisphenol‐A polycarbonate. I. Effect of phenolic end groups
Author(s) -
Pryde C. A.,
Hellman M. Y.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1980.070251114
Subject(s) - bisphenol a , polycarbonate , hydrolysis , bisphenol , polymer , gel permeation chromatography , chemistry , polymer chemistry , solid state , end group , chromatography , chemical engineering , materials science , organic chemistry , copolymer , epoxy , engineering
Abstract Solid samples of a nonhydrolytically stabilized bisphenol‐A polycarbonate were hydrolyzed at 125°C and 1.4 atm of steam. IR and UV techniques were used both to estimate the degree to which the unhydrolyzed polymer is capped by a chain‐terminating agent and to determine the rate of hydrolysis as indicated by the formation of new phenolic end groups. The rate of formation of low‐molecular‐weight products, particularly bisphenol‐A, was estimated by gel permeation chromatography studies. The combined results suggest that the degree of end‐group capping is an important factor in the hydrolytic stability of the solid polymer. A model consistent with these results is proposed.