RADIATION DEGRADATION OF POLY(BUTENE-1 SULFONE) AND POLY(1,4-PHENYLENE ETHER SULFONE) IN THE SOFT-X-RAY REGION

The mass spectral fragment ion yields and total electron yields have been measured for the polymers poly(butene-1 sulfone) [PBS] and poly(1,4-phenylene ether sulfone) [PPES] around the sulfur 2p (L(II)) edge, using synchrotron radiation from the Canadian Synchrotron Radiation Facility [CSRF]. Ionization of the sulfur 2p orbitals of PBS produced a sharp decrease in the neutral yields of SO2 and 1-butene. Decreases in the SO2 and 1-butene neutral yield shapes "mirrored" the structure present in the total electron yield. Ionization of the sulfur 2p orbital does not appear to produce any enhanced cleavage of the C-S bonds in the polymer backbone. A G(olefin)/G(SO2) ratio of 0.96 +/- 0.15 was determined at 21-degrees-C from mass spectrometry, consistent with a depropagation reaction mechanism. PPES showed a much different behavior than PBS about the sulfur 2p edge, with no detectable yield of SO2.