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Investigation of thermal degradation of polystyrene by differential scanning calorimetry
Author(s) -
Toh H. K.,
Funt B. L.
Publication year - 1982
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.1982.070271108
Subject(s) - differential scanning calorimetry , polystyrene , glass transition , degradation (telecommunications) , reaction rate constant , materials science , kinetics , intrinsic viscosity , relaxation (psychology) , thermodynamics , activation energy , viscosity , thermal decomposition , thermal , chain scission , molar mass distribution , polymer chemistry , chemistry , polymer , composite material , organic chemistry , psychology , social psychology , physics , quantum mechanics , computer science , telecommunications
Thermal degradation of polystyrene was performed in a differential scanning calorimeter under nitrogen atmosphere, and the glass transition temperature was measured continuously. From random chain scission kinetics and T g ‐molecular weight relationships, the rate constant for random scission was obtained. The rate constant was found to undergo a drastic change at a critical molecular weight (∽45,000), which corresponds to a similar observation in relaxation studies. A viscosity‐dependent mechanism for radical chain end termination is thus suggested.