Thermal and Tribological Properties of Fullerene‐Containing Composite Systems. Part 1. Thermal Stability of Fullerene‐Polymer Systems

Abstract

The techniques of mass‐spectrometric thermal analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, differential thermogravimetry, and wide‐angle x‐ray analysis of thermal and oxidative degradation of two types of fullerene‐containing polymer systems (FCPS) were studied: 1) FCPS with covalent interaction of fullerene C60 with polymers; 2) FCPS representing mixtures of C60 with polymers in which interaction of components is realized only by means of Van‐der‐Waals' forces. In both types of FCPS the electron acceptation properties of C60 are manifested. In some systems of the first type, a great decrease in thermal stability of a polymer component was observed; in systems of the second type the ability of fullerene C60 to play a role of “trap” of free radicals is especially manifested. The polymer matrix also influences the thermal behavior of fullerene C60. In particular, fullerene can serve as a specific “probe” of chemical processes that occur during thermal degradation of a polymer. Different polystyrenes and poly(methyl methacrylate)s containing 1–10 mass% C60 (FCPS) were investigated.