Investigation of the thermal degradation of fully aromatic regular polyesters: Poly(oxy-1,4-phenyleneoxy-fumaroyl-bis-4-oxybenzoate)

The thermal behaviour and degradation mechanism of fully aromatic polyester, poly(oxy-1,4-phenyleneoxy-fumaroyl-bis-4-oxybenzoate), were studied by pyrolysis-gas chromatography and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry at 500-700 °C, and by thermogravimetry. The influence of fullerene C60 additives on thermal behaviour and thermal degradation was investigated. On the basis of pyrolysis products determined, the origin of the main degradation products (maleic anhydride, phenol, hydroquinone, phenyl ether, p-hydroxybenzoate-p′-phenol, etc.) was estimated. The fullerene is a well-known efficient acceptor of radicals and its presence influences the thermal degradation process of polymers shifting the decomposition from a radical pathway to a non-radical mechanism. Thermal degradation mechanism of poly(oxy-1,4-phenyleneoxy-fumaroyl-bis-4-oxybenzoate) is discussed in detail.