G. Geuskens, D. Baeyens-volant, G. Delaunois
1978
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0
Influential Citations
123
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Quality indicators
Journal
European Polymer Journal
Abstract
Abstract The photo-oxidation of polystyrene irradiated at 253.7 nm at a pressure of 600 Torr oxygen has been studied quantitatively. Quantum yields have been measured for most chemical reactions observed. It has thus been shown that only about 4% of the oxygen absorbed ultimately results in chain scissions. These occur with formation of an acetophenone-type end-group and an unsaturated chain-end simultaneously. Unsaturated chain-ends are then starting points for the building of sequences of conjugated double bonds (polyenes). About 30% of the absorbed oxygen is transformed into carbon dioxide without any permanent chain scission. Since energy is absorbed almost exclusively by the phenyl chromophores of the polymer, most of the observed reactions occur only because of energy transfer to photo-reactive products.