Thermal and tribological properties of fullerene-containing composite systems. Part 1. Thermal stability of fullerene-polymer systems

The techniques of mass-spectrometric thermal analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, differential thermogravimetry, and wide-angle x-ray analysis of thermal and oxidative degradation of two types of fullerene-containing polymer systems (FCPS) were studied: 1) FCPS with covalent interaction of fullerene C-60 with polymers; 2) FCPS representing mixtures Of C-60 with polymers in which interaction of components is realized only by means of Van-der-Waals' forces. In both types of FCPS the electron acceptation properties of C-60 are manifested. In some systems of the first type, a great decrease in thermal stability of a polymer component was observed; in systems of the second type the ability of fullerene C-60 to play a role of "trap" of free radicals is especially manifested. The polymer matrix also influences the thermal behavior of fullerene C-60, In particular, fullerene can serve as a specific "probe" of chemical processes that occur during thermal degradation of a polymer. Different polystyrenes and poly(methyl methacrylate)s containing 1-10 mass% C-60 (FCPS) were investigated.