Thermal degradation of poly(2-vinylpyridine) copolymers

The thermal degradation characteristics of block copolymers of poly(2-vinylpyridine) with polystyrene, PS-b-P2VP, polyisoprene, PI-b-P2VP and poly(methyl methacrylate), P2VP-b-PMMA, were investigated via pyrolysis mass spectrometry. DP-MS analyses indicated that the thermal degradation of each component of the copolymers, except P2VP-b-PMMA, occurred independently through the decomposition pathways proposed for the corresponding homopolymers. In case of P2VP-b-PMMA, significant decrease in the thermal stability of P2VP chains and evolution of products generated due to strong interaction between P2VP and PMMA chains were detected.