Thermal stability of graft modifications of PVC and related materials

Abstract

Abstract The grafting of polyisobutylene and polybutadiene onto PVC by use of alkylaluminum compounds gives graft copolymers which are superior in thermal stability to unmodified PVC as determined by dehydrochlorination measurements at a low degree of decomposition. The alkylation of toluene with PVC also exhibits high heat stability. The improved thermal stability observed for the modified samples is ascribed to the existence of an induction period and/or lower dehydrochlorination rates. PVC grafted with polybutadiene in the absence of cobalt cocatalyst exhibits autocatalytic behavior and is less stable than the unmodified PVC.