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Title: INFRARED STUDY OF THE REACTION OF POLYISOPRENE AND POLYBUTADIENE WITH SULFUR BY USE OF DEUTERATED POLYMERS

Journal Article · · J. Polymer Sci.

An infrared study of the sulfur vulcanization process was carried out with very high cis polymers of isoprened/sub 8/, isoprene-3-d/sub 1/ and butadiene-2,3-d/sub 2/ as well as the corresponding perprotio polymers. The use of deuterated polymers permitted more definitite interpretations of the spectral changes associated with vulcanization than those previously reported or were possible with the undeuterated polyisoprene or polybutadiene. It was concluded that the 10.4 mu band which develops in the spectrum of cis-polyisoprene on extended reaction with sulfur at 140 deg C, and which has been the subject of some controversy, arises largelyfrom a combination of saturated ring structures, such as cyclic sulfides, and conjugated double bonds, and to a minor extent from shifted double bonds. In addition to the processes leading to these various structures, crosslinking also occurs, but it apparently produces no important changes in the spectra of the polyisoprene vulcanizate other than that associated with a decrease in the original unsaturation. Polybutadiene, in contrast to polyisoprene. undergoes extensive cis-trans isomerization when extensively vulcanized with sulfur. Apparently, ring formation and eoncurrent production of conjugated double bonds also occur, but there is only a very slight amount of doublebond shifting in polybutadiene. (auth)

Research Organization:
B.F. Goodrich Co. Research Center, Brechsville, Ohio
NSA Number:
NSA-16-023538
OSTI ID:
4830360
Journal Information:
J. Polymer Sci., Vol. Vol: 58; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-62
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English