Photodegradation of polystyrene : effect of polymer structure on the formation of degradation product

Abstract EN

-Photodegradation of atactic and syndiotactic polystyrene has been investigated using optical absorption and Fourier Trans form Infrared (FTIR) spectral analysis and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopic measurements.

Photoirradiations were carried out with radiation from a medium pressure mercury lamp (polychromatic radiation) and monochromatic radiation using the Okazaki Large Spectrograph (OLS).

Oxygenated products formation was favored in the photodegradation of atactic polystyrene, while conjugated doubl e bond formation in syndiotactic polystyrene is superior to that in atactic polystyrene.

Longer conjugated doubl e bonds were found in photoirradiated syndiotactic polystyrene.

The difference in the products formed was discussed on the basis of the structures of both polymers.

The threshold wavelength for oxygenated products formation estimated from the monochromatic radiation experiments was found to be around 300 nm for both polymers.