Copper carboxylate formation in the thermal oxidative degradation of atactic polypropylene on copper oxide films

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.575007· OSTI ID:5219377

Webb, J D; Czanderna, A W; Pitts, J R

The thermal oxidation of atactic polypropylene on CuO/sub 0.67/ surfaces in air was studied using Fourier transform infrared reflection--absorption spectroscopy (FT--IR--RA). Degradative losses of primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl hydrogens were observed. Films of CuO/sub 0.67/ (55 nm thick) were prepared by the thermal oxidation at 122 /sup 0/C of a copper film on 50 nm of gold, which was supported by a polished fused silica substrate. Thin films (70--200 nm) of purified atactic polypropylene were cast onto the copper oxide from xylene solution at 90 /sup 0/C and air dried at 22 /sup 0/C. The samples were heated in situ in the FT--IR--RA apparatus in synthetic or in laboratory air and then mounted for the IR--RA measurements from 600 to 5000 cm/sup -1/. At 60 and 73 /sup 0/C, carboxylic acids are the primary degradation products, while at 85 and 100 /sup 0/C, copper carboxylate formation predominates, and CuO/sub 0.67/ is decomposed. The distinct change in the oxidative mechanisms between 73 and 85 /sup 0/C apparently is related to an irreversible thermal transition in the atactic polypropylene films, which may favor carboxylate production by increasing the permeability of the films to oxygen and water vapor.

• Research Organization: Materials Research Branch, Solar Energy Research Institute, Golden, Colorado 80401
• OSTI ID: 5219377
• Journal Information: J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States), Journal Name: J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States) Vol. 6:3; ISSN JVTAD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360604* -- Materials-- Corrosion
Erosion
& Degradation
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201 -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
ALKENES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBOXYLATION
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTION YIELD
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COPPER COMPOUNDS
COPPER OXIDES
DATA
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FILMS
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
MINERALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROPYLENE
SILICA
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
THIN FILMS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
YIELDS