Thermal properties of polynorbornene (cis- and trans-) and hydrogenated polynorbornene

The thermal properties of trans-polynorbornene, cis-polynorbornene and hydrogenated polynorbornene were examined and its reversibility tested. Trans-polynorbornene samples, formed in various solvents, exhibit a softening range, from ambient temperature until 375 degrees C. However, syndiotactic cis-polynorbornene samples show a narrower melting range (between 150 and 375 degrees C). The fusion enthalpies of cis-polynorbornene samples are around 300-400 J/g. The temperature of decomposition is ca. 456 degrees C (minimum peak DSC) for trans-polynorbornene and ca. 466 degrees C, 10 degrees C higher, for cis-polynorbornene. The solvent used for the polymerization of norbornene has a negligible influence in the melting temperature range or in the decomposition temperature. The treatment with 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenol during the isolation of polynorbornene leads to materials with different thermal properties. Trans-polynorbornene isolated without 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenol exhibited an exothermic peak accompanied by an slight increase in weight (1-2%), while samples treated with 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenol do not show these features.