Thermal oxidation of polybutadiene. Part 1: Effect of temperature, oxygen pressure and sample thickness on the thermal oxidation of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene

An additive-free, uncrosslinked, hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene of predominant trans 1-4 structure was thermally oxidized at temperatures ranging from 60 to 120 °C, under various oxygen pressures (between 0.01 and 3.1 MPa). Samples of thickness ranging from 5 to 1000 μm were studied by gravimetry (mass changes due to oxygen absorption) and infrared spectrophotometry (hydroxyl and carbonyl build-up, double bond consumption). The effects of film thickness, oxygen pressure and temperature on oxidation kinetics are discussed in terms of branched radical chain mechanisms.