POLYMER REACTION .11. OXIDATIVE PYROLYSIS OF POLY(ISOPRENE)

Poly(isoprene) has been oxidized at temperatures between 268 and 340 °C. The products were GC separated and on-line identified by an interfaced GC pyrolysis peak identification system. The most abundant products are methyl ethyl ketone, methyl vinyl ketone, and butyraldehyde, with lesser amounts of acetaldehyde, acetone, methacrolein, propionaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde. A free-radical chain mechanism is proposed. The rate constants for the oxidative pyrolysis of poly(isoprene) have been determined; the overall activation energy is about 27 kcal/mol. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.