Oxidation of poly(tetramethylene sulfide)

Abstract

Abstract Oxidation of poly(tetramethylene sulfide) single crystals was carried out in a dispersion of distilled water at 25°C using trifluoroacetic acid and H 2 O 2 . The oxidation takes place in two different stages: the first one corresponds to preferential formation of sulfoxide groups and the second one, at higher concentrations of oxidizing agent, corresponds to formation of sulfone groups. Changes in crystallinity and melting behaviour of the intermediate polysulfones obtained were followed by X‐ray diffraction and calorimetry. Changes in the heat and temperature of melting and in the morphology are related to the different stages of oxidation.