This review-paper discusses these kinds of spectroscopy which yield organic structural information and involve the nondestructive interaction of electromagnetic radiation with polymers of interest to the rubber industry. For those forms of spectroscopy which meet this rather restrictive definition, their use with nonpolymeric compounds of importance to the rubber industry is included. In accord with these criteria, proton magnetic resonance (PMR), carbon-13 magnetic resonance (CMR), ESR and UV spectroscopy is discussed in this review. Theoretical considerations are followed by a description of applications of the discussed techniques for the structural characterization of vinyl homopolymers, diene homopolymers, vinyl copolymers and non-polymeric (autiexidants, carbon black) materials. The use of ESR spectroscopy in polymerization mechanisms studies is included. Applications of UV and visible spectroscopy in the characterization of PVC, polyacrylonitrile and polyvinylidene chloride are reviewed in detail.
